Public Health Commons^™

Longitudinal Trends (2011–2020) Of Premature Mortality And Years Of Potential Life Loss (Ypll) And Associated Covariates Of The 62 New York State Counties, Maria-Isabel Roldos, John Orazem, Talita Fortunato-Tavares

Publications and Research

Background

New York State (NYS) is the 27th largest state and the 4th most populous state in the U.S., with close to 20 million people in 62 counties. Territories with diverse populations present the best opportunity to study health outcomes and associated covariates, and how these differ across different populations and groups. The County Health Ranking and Roadmaps (CHR&R) ranks counties by linking the population’s characteristics and health outcomes and contextual factors in a synchronic approach.

Methods

The goal of this study is to analyze the longitudinal trends in NYS counties of age-adjusted premature mortality rate and years of potential …

Mental Health Resources For Low Income Individuals, Jasmine G. Marin

Whittier Scholars Program

There are many barriers that low income individuals and populations face in accessing mental healthcare, including lack of health insurance that makes it hard to afford care, distance from clinics especially for people who live rurally, lack of transportation, inability to take time off work, and the stigma of mental illness coupled with poverty. Systemic racism in medical settings also plays a significant role in low income minority groups’ lack of access to quality care, as doctors prioritize those with insurance. Unfortunately, poverty itself can cause major stressors which puts families at higher risk for mental illness and substance abuse, …

Predictors And Barriers To Vaccination Among Older Syrian Refugees In Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of A Multi-Wave Longitudinal Study, Berthe Abi Zeid, Tanya El Khoury, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Marwan F. Alawieh, Zeinab Ramadan, Sirine Anouti, Sawsan Abdulrahim, Stephen J. Mccall

Faculty Publications

Background:

Vaccination is important to prevent morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 among older Syrian refugees. We aimed to elucidate the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Syrian refugees aged 50 years or older in Lebanon and to understand their main reasons for not receiving the vaccine.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional analysis of a five-wave longitudinal study, conducted through telephone interviews between Sept 22, 2020, and March 14, 2022, in Lebanon. For this analysis, data were extracted from wave 3 (Jan 21–April 23, 2021), which included a question on vaccine safety and on whether participants intended to receive the …

Vaccines In The 20th Century, Samantha Valakos

Senior Honors Projects

In 1796 Edward Jenner marked a turning point in epidemiology after testing a theory and developing the first vaccination known to mankind: smallpox. Since his work, many scientists have discovered that virulent strains of a virus can be attenuated in humans, consequently aiding in the creation of many different vaccines. Nowadays, one of the most common vaccines for humans to receive is the influenza vaccine. The influenza vaccine is very effective in prevention of getting the virus, as well as reducing the risk of flu-like symptoms. However, each year many individuals continue to choose not to get the flu vaccine …

The Effects Of Mental Health And Burnout In Medicine In Relation To The Wilson Model Of Leadership, Kevin Beck

Senior Honors Projects

The purpose of this project is to determine the effects that burnout and poor mental health can have on the ability of health care professionals to effectively do their job and lead others in medicine. Burnout, as defined by Merriam Webster, is “the exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.” This is a self-reported quantitative study analyzing information acquired via a survey to determine if there is a relation to burnout and poor mental health in medicine and the ability to effectively lead others and complete work tasks and this …

Nutrition Education In U.S. Medical Schools: An Analysis And Discussion Of Its Necessity, Marie G. Fam

Senior Honors Projects

MARIE FAM

(Dietetics)

Nutrition Education in U.S. Medical Schools: An Analysis and Discussion of its Necessity

Sponsor: Sarah Amin (Nutrition and Food Sciences)

Although approximately 80% of chronic diseases across all ages can be treated, prevented, or even cured with proper nutrition therapies, preliminary evidence suggests that medical schools in the United States deemphasize its importance by not allotting appropriate time and resources to nutrition education. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the accrediting organization for U.S. medical schools, recommends no less than 25 hours of nutrition education. The objective of this study was to evaluate how nutrition education content …

Uri Athletics Fueling Station, Caitlin O'Leary

Senior Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of Information Extraction From Bar, Line, Circular, Bubble And Radar Graphs, Hiddadura Isura Malinda Mendis Abeynayake, Ravindra S. Goonetilleke, Albert Wijeweera, Uwe Reischl

Public and Population Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

With the emergence of enormous amounts of data, numerous ways to visualize such data have been used. Bar, circular, line, radar and bubble graphs that are ubiquitous were investigated for their effectiveness. Fourteen participants performed four types of evaluations: between categories (cities), within categories (transport modes within a city), all categories, and a direct reading within a category from a graph. The representations were presented in random order and participants were asked to respond to sixteen questions to the best of their ability after visually scanning the related graph. There were two trials on two separate days for each participant. …

A Meta-Analysis Of The Correlation Between Historical Trauma And Health Outcomes In The Native American Population, Taylen Day

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Native Americans experience significant health disparities such as increased rates of
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental illness. Recent research has suggested that historical trauma may be a contributing factor. This meta-analysis examined the association between historical trauma and health outcomes in Native Americans in the United States and Canada. Data from 14 studies (N = 14,698, 35 effect sizes) examining the physical health, mental health, and substance use domains and using the Historical Loss Scale were collected for analysis. Possible moderating factors were also examined. Overall, a small, significant association (r =.124) was found between historical trauma and health outcomes. …

Can We Learn To Heal Ourselves? The Promise, Perils, And Insights Behind Medicalizing Psychedelics, Brielle Seidel

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Before they were criminalized, psychedelics were once used in mental health research. Today, they are making a resurgence in the medical field following a long hiatus. Current clinical trials for psychedelic-assisted therapy reveal their potential to treat a variety of mental health conditions. While this novel treatment provides promise, there are many implications to consider regarding its integration into the Western medical model. This paper includes a literature review of the past and current use of psychedelics for healing purposes and mental health research. The literature review provides background for understanding the resurgence of psychedelics within a larger context. Additionally, …

Please Romaine Calm! A Multi-Disciplinary Investigation Of A Cyclospora Outbreak Among Hospital Employees, Jocelyn Love Mph, Amber Erickson Drph, Mph, Hope Dishman Mph, Carla Coley Bs, Rehs

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Background

On July 8, 2022, North Central Health District (NCHD) was notified by a local hospital of a possible Cyclospora outbreak among hospital employees. The hospital noted the employees had eaten at the hospital’s cafeteria, particularly the salad bar. An investigation was conducted to test this hypothesis and determine which salad bar ingredients were the cause of illness.

Methods

An electronic survey was shared with all hospital employees through their email distribution system. Employees were asked to complete the survey regardless of illness or exposure history. Lab- confirmed cases were interviewed using the Cyclosporiasis National Hypothesis Generating Questionnaire. Environmental health …

How Does Birth Control Impact Overall User Wellness: A Mixed-Methodology Approach Surveying How Physical, Mental, And Social Wellness Is Impacted By Use Of Birth Control, Ashley Beamon

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The purpose of this study is to understand the ways in which birth control may impact wellness. By looking at physical activity, social wellness, experienced side effects, and a range of demographics, the goal is to better understand how the use of birth control may impact its user’s overall wellness. After gathering data in a two-week survey, I discovered that mood swings, weight gain, and depression were the top three reported side effects and Latina women reported irregular bleeding at a higher frequency than white women. Loneliness is impacted by birth control use; users were 30% more likely to report …

Healthcare Experiences By Race, Sex, And Weight Status In A Sample Of Low Wage Workers Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Michael Ampofo

Honors Scholar Theses

There is longstanding evidence of racial, sex-based, weight-based, and socioeconomic status (SES) disparities in the quality of healthcare. These disparities can result from provider bias and discrimination in the healthcare system and can contribute to disparities in health outcomes. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated differential treatment in healthcare due to the strain it placed on the healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. healthcare experiences among low SES non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White patients. This secondary analysis utilized survey measures from 225 low-wage workers, ages …

Difference In Smoking Patterns And Quitting Status Between Premium And Non-Premium Cigar Users After Two Years Of Follow Up In Us Adults: Findings From The Population Assessment Of Tobacco And Health (Path) Study, 2016-2019, Sarah Valencia

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Previous studies have described the demographics, purchasing behaviors, trends in frequencies of cigar use, and quitting status among cigar poly users, however, there has not been a study that evaluates differences in demographic characteristics and quitting status for premium and non-premium U.S. adult cigar users. This study used secondary data analyses of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study public-use files dataset for adult traditional cigar users in wave 4 (2016-2018) and wave 5 (2018-2019). Traditional cigars were classified as premium or non-premium at wave 4 (2016-2018) using the brand and price per stick of cigar that was …

Viral Particle Detection In Wastewater, Katelyn Clark

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Wastewater is an underutilized resource for recognizing the epidemiology of pathogen transmission and infections within a community that has the potential to mitigate disease outbreaks. Pathogens of public health concern, such as adenovirus, norovirus, and SARS-CoV-2, occur in wastewater from excretion of infected individuals. Despite the potential for wastewater pathogen data to predict future outbreaks, the relationship between viral shedding patterns in wastewater and case counts of infectious disease remains unclear. An evaluation of the peer-reviewed literature was conducted to compile characteristics of adenovirus, norovirus, and SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater environment. These characteristics were considered in prioritizing the key pathogens …

Prevalence Of Sars-Cov-2 Antibodies By Rural-Urban Residential Status In Texas, Breanna Bailey Ellis

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Understanding the health disparities associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody status across Texas is essential. These differences can guide healthcare professionals and local public health officials to identify vulnerable populations needing COVID-19 prevention and treatment resources. This study aims to contribute to the literature by determining if rural and urban geographical locations are disproportionately impacted by SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in the state of Texas. I utilized the Texas Coronavirus Antibody REsponse Survey (Texas CARES), a large ongoing prospective population-based survey among 5–90-year-olds from the Texas general population that began collecting seroprevalence data in October 2020 (1). Participants in the survey are …

The Substance Use Disorder Peer Workforce In Texas And The United States: Assessing And Addressing The Workforce Development And Economic Evaluation Gaps, Sierra Castedo De Martell

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The infrastructure for addressing problematic substance use and substance use disorder (SUD) across the US has shortages in many areas, and suffered additional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. One method to address shortages in SUD care infrastructure relatively quickly is to expand the peer workforce delivering peer recovery support services (PRSS). This workforce has expanded to cover most US states over the past two decades, but gaps in the evidence base for peer workforce development and economic evaluations of PRSS have persisted. To address these gaps, three studies were undertaken with the following aims: (1) Conducted a systematic review of …

How Has The Covid-19 Pandemic Transformed The Relevance Of The Traditional College Experience?, Zachary Schueller

Political Science Theses and Capstones

Over the past three years, the Covid-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered students’ college experience through its location format and delivery. Research and early interviews suggest that students are now less likely to pursue a four-year traditional college experience than they were before the start of the pandemic. Instead, students are increasingly choosing to pursue other options such as not going to college or learning remotely. Even before the start of the pandemic data shows that college enrollment was already declining. While this data shows the short-term effects of Covid-19 on students there are a number of questions about the long-term …

Sun Safety Education: A Glance At Calloway County Schools, Tess S. Henderson

Honors College Theses

The American Academy of Dermatology states that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer within the United States (Skin Cancer, 2022), and more than two people die of the disease each hour (Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics, 2023). From a public health perspective one avenue to explore in lowering skin cancer rates is a focus on sun safety education lessons aimed at school children. The proposed project aims to assess the current status of sun safety education in Calloway County elementary and middle schools via a survey of teachers within these schools. After data was collected, it was …

Postpartum Depression In Jamaica: Exploring The Lived Experiences., Shakeyrah Elmore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of Jamaican women with postpartum depression (PPD). It is estimated globally, postpartum depression impacts 10-20% of women. In Jamaica, rates exceed global averages, with 26-60% of women experiencing PPD. Untreated maternal depression poses a significant physical, social, and economic threat to Jamaican women, children, and society as a whole. This study affirms that maternal mental health and postpartum depression are global public health concerns. There are limited studies that have examined PPD in Jamaican women, especially qualitatively. This research study utilized a qualitative descriptive approach to examine PPD experiences …

Unheard Victims Of Covid-19: The Impact Of Mask Use On Communication For D/Deaf And Hard Of Hearing People, Kym Couch

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Masks are effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19, but they also impact communication for d/Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) people. This research is a mixed methods approach to analyzing the impact that the widespread use of masks in response to COVID-19 has had on DHH people. Building on the allowance for nuance and paradox presented by Deborah Stone in her book Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making (2012) and holding to the Social Model of Disability, this research involves the qualitative and quantitative analysis of a survey of one-hundred and ninety-eight (198) DHH people, interviews with …

Therapeutic Approaches To Working With Perinatal Loss Clients: A Grounded Theory Study, Heather H. Olivier

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Perinatal loss (i.e., miscarriage, stillbirth, termination, and infant death) is commonly referred to in the literature as an invisible loss, non-loss, and even medical event. It is an ambiguous loss exhibiting the dialectical contradiction between the physical absence and psychological presence of the baby accompanied by disenfranchised grief, a reaction to a loss that is unacknowledged by society. Despite the likelihood of mental health clinicians working with clients who have experienced perinatal loss, there has yet to be a therapeutic model designed specifically for the unique grief and trauma reactions presented in this population. Existing grief models do not address …

Effect Of Temperature On The Microbiome Of A Laboratory-Reared Colony Of Haemaphysalis Longicornis Ticks, Brianna L. Mitchell

Honors Theses

Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks are invasive to the United States with potential to transmit several tick-borne pathogens that are native to the United States. Based on existing locations of H. longicornis in its native regions in Asia, as well as its invasive populations that are established in the United States, several geographic range prediction models have been produced to help understand future range expansion and distribution of this invasive tick in North America. Unfortunately, these models do not all agree and there is uncertainty associated with the potential geographic range expansion of H. longicornis ticks in North America. Climate can affect …

Coh 1500 Healthcare In The Us Oer Syllabus, Shannon Caravello

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

Nurses’ And Nursing Students' Knowledge Of Pregnancy-Related Complications Among African Americans, Tamija Alexander

Honors Theses

The literature highlights ethnic and racial disparities within healthcare and maternal outcomes. African American mothers have suffered from disproportionate mortality and morbidity rates compared to Caucasian women for centuries. In 2007–2016, African American and American Indian/Alaska Native women had significantly more pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 births than did Caucasians, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander women. Cardiomyopathy, thrombotic pulmonary embolism, and hypertensive disorders are the three leading causes of complications during pregnancy among African Americans. The purpose of the research study was to identify if nurses and nursing students can recognize the early and late signs and symptoms of cardiomyopathy, thrombotic pulmonary …

Perceptions Of Prenatal Care From Mississippi Mothers: The Role Of Race And Insurance Coverage, Brittney Clayborn

Honors Theses

Giving birth in America as an African American woman is a daunting and risky undertaking. African American women are three to four times more likely to die from giving birth and two times more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity than their White counterparts (Wang, Glazer, Sofaer, Balbierz, & Howell, 2020). The disparity seen in maternal health and mortality can partially be linked to other chronic health and medical factors; however, there are even disparities seen in those as well. Attention must be brought to the impact of race and socioeconomic status on the likelihood of survival after giving birth, …

Using Social Practice Theory In Measuring Perceived Stigma Among Female Sex Workers In Mombasa, Kenya, Joseph Newton Guni, Stanley Wechuli Wanjala, Griffins Manguro, Caroline Gichuki, Megan Sc Lim, Minh D. Pham, Stanley Luchters, James Orwa

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background Perceived stigma is a complex societal phenomenon that is harboured especially by female sex workers because of the interplay of a myriad of factors. As such, a precise measure of the contribution of different social practices and characteristics is necessary for both understanding and intervening in matters related to perceived stigma. We developed a Perceived Stigma Index that measures the factors that greatly contribute to the stigma among sex workers in Kenya, and thereby inform a framework for future interventions.

Methods Social Practice Theory was adopted in the development of the Perceived Stigma Index in which three social domains …

Covid-19 Prevalence And Trends Among Pregnant And Postpartum Individuals In Maine By Rurality And Pregnancy Conditions, Charlie Grantham, Christina Ackerman-Banks, Heather Lipkind, Kristin Palmsten, Katherine Ahrens

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2023

Our study is the first to estimate prevalence of COVID-19 among pregnant and postpartum individuals for Maine, using data that captures both commercial and public insurance and examines differences by rurality, a known modifier of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. individuals.

Access To Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Care In Montana, James C. Bohnhoff, Michael Kohut Phd, Chelsea Bodnar, Elizabeth A. Jacobs

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2023

Introduction: Management of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) requires significant family effort and specialty support. We aimed to understand how living in a rural state impacts families’ experiences during and after diagnosis.

“I Know My Body Better Than Anyone Else” Perspectives Of People Who Inject Drugs On Antimicrobial Treatment Decision Making For Serious Infections, Amy Eckland, Michael Kohut Phd, Henry Stoddard, Debra Burris, Frank Chessa, Monica Sikka, Daniel Solomon, Colleen Kershaw, Ellen Eaton, Rebecca N. Hutchinson, Peter Friedmann, Thomas Stopka, Kathleen Fairfield, Kinna Thakarar

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2023

Introduction:

• Few studies have examined the perspectives of patients with lived experience regarding outpatient treatment options for injection drug use (IDU) associated infections.

• We sought to better understand the perspectives of both community partners with lived experience who work with people who inject drugs (PWID) and hospitalized patients with IDU-associated infections on shared treatment decision making.