Public Health Commons^™

Chronic Kidney Disease And Depressive Disorders Among Adult Non-Hispanic African Americans And Whites In Georgia, Omatola Gordon-Rose

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), depressive disorders, and mental health are significant health issues in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of CKD and depressive disorders and days of poor mental health in adults living in Georgia, controlling for race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, age, diabetes mellitus status, high blood pressure status, marital status, and number of adults in the household. The study was a descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional design with secondary data analysis, and the framework used was Wilson and Cleary health-related quality of life measures. The 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey weighted …

The Childbirth Experiences And Perceptions Of Sierra Leonean Women Relating To Basic Maternal Rights, Francess Fornah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sierra Leone faces immense challenges in supporting good quality, woman-centered care, with one of the world's highest maternal mortality ratios of 717 per 100,000 live births. In countries with high maternal mortality, evidence of the fear of disrespect and abuse women usually confront in maternity care is a more solid deterrent to the use of skilled care than commonly recognized barriers, such as cost or distance. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed at understanding the childbirth experiences and perceptions of Sierra Leonean women relating to basic maternal rights. The ecological systems theoretical framework and the respectful maternity care charter conceptual framework …

Disparities In Caregiver-Reported Dental Cavities And Toothaches Among Children In The Special Supplemental Nutrition For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) Program, Denise M. Claiborne, Chun Chen, Qi Zhang

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: Dental caries is prevalent among low-income and minority children despite oral health promotion programs. The purpose of this study was to examine disparities associated with caregiver-reported cavities and toothaches among children in the United States aged 2-4 years by their eligibility for and participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

Methods: A secondary data analysis was performed using the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) data on children aged 2-4 years (n=7,719) with complete WIC participation information. Three groups were formed based on WIC eligibility and participation status: WIC participants, income-eligible non-participants, …

Color-Blind Racial Attitudes In Practicing Dental Hygienists, Emily A. Ludwig, Susan L. Tolle, Jessica R. Suedbeck

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: Individuals who subscribe to a color-blind racial ideology may not be aware of differences or differential treatment based on race which may be related to racial inequality in the delivery of oral health care. The purpose of this study was to determine color-blind racial attitudes in a convenience sample of clinical dental hygienists.

Methods: A convenience sample of practicing dental hygienists recruited through social media via snowball sampling was invited to participate in this cross-sectional survey study. The Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS), a valid and reliable measuring instrument, was used to determine unawareness of racial attitudes and stereotyping. …

What Should Ethical And Strategic Employers Do About Covid-19 Vaccines?, Dale B. Thompson, Susan A. Suspina, Katherina G. Pattit, Dawn R. Swink

University of San Francisco Law Review

No abstract provided.

Water In The Time Of Covid: Water Insecurity, Privatization, And Establishment Of The Human Right To Water, Liza Sternik

University of San Francisco Law Review

No abstract provided.

American Motherhood - A Taking, Nicole Knight

Mitchell Hamline Law Journal of Public Policy and Practice

No abstract provided.

Firpta Repeal: The United States’ Post-Pandemic Economic Solution To Infrastructure Reform, Adam Mazin

University of San Francisco Law Review

No abstract provided.

Childhood Obesity Interventions In The Republic Of Trinidad And Tobago: A Qualitative Study Exploring Government Policies And Their Implementation By Health Practitioners, Phyllis Woolford

Dissertations

Because of the rising prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and the observation that efforts to address the problem were showing disappointing results, this study seeks to explore the experiences and views of policymakers, health practitioners, and parents of overweight and obese children, in order to inform leaders and policy makers regarding the current interventions.

Method

A qualitative research case study methodology is the research design used, which, with my research questions, I considered would best uncover knowledge and provide perspectives that would provide an increased understanding of the issues arising from the …

Adverse Childhood Events And Protective Health Behaviors Among Adults With Diabetes Or Diabetes With Comorbid Heart Disease, Ciara Michelle Rukse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes is a prevalent and costly chronic condition that can lead to other comorbid conditions such as heart disease. Disease management is essential but can be stressful and complicated, especially for individuals who have developed maladaptive behaviors in response to exposure to adverse childhood events (ACEs), which are chronic stressors that impact physiological and psychological development. There is limited research on the potential relationship between childhood adversity and engagement in protective health behaviors among U.S. populations with diabetes or diabetes with comorbid heart disease. The ACEs pyramid was the theoretical framework of this quantitative cross-sectional study concerning morbidity and early …

African American Women’S Body Image Perceptions And The Built Environment, Andrea Denise Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American (AA) women have a 54.8% overall obesity rate in the United States. This quantitative cross-sectional study’s aim was to determine what factors may have an impact on body image perceptions of AA women in Alabama and New Jersey. A gap in research this study addressed is sociodemographic and geographic differences that may impact obesity rates among AA women. The theoretical framework used for this study was the social cognitive theory. Secondary data were obtained from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Linear regression (LR) analyses results showed that none of the sociodemographic variables (education level, employment status, …

Diabetes Self-Management Education In The Urban Low Socioeconomic Status Senior Population, Heather Santa Barbara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This exploratory quantitative study used a survey design to address a gap in the literature concerning primary care team perceptions about diabetes care for urban low socioeconomic status seniors with diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic health problem that is often managed in primary care offices, and primary care teams are often the first source of education and support for patients. Standards of management for seniors with diabetes has changed to eliminate tight control of glucose levels, and primary care team members may have differing perceptions about diabetes care depending upon their role in the primary care team and years of …

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 30-Day Readmission Rates In California, Illinois, And New York, Theresa Teverbaugh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have implemented financial penalties to reduce hospital readmissions for various conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As a result, hospital administrators explore ways to prevent financial penalties for excessive COPD 30-day hospital readmissions. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there was a correlation between hospital Medicare reimbursement, quality-of-care measures related to patient satisfaction, and 30-day readmissions rates for COPD patients in California, Illinois, and New York. The quality-of-care measures included communication with nurses, communication with doctors, the hospital staff's responsiveness, and medicine communication. The secondary data were …

Exploring The Behavioral Health Clinician Shortage At A Rural Midwestern U.S. Agency, Tracy L. Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Behavioral health clinician shortages are a significant and ongoing problem in the United States, especially in rural areas, which have higher rates of homelessness, suicide, substance use, and violence rates than urban areas. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore factors contributing to the behavioral health clinician shortage in a rural midwestern U.S. public health department. The goal was to gain a better understanding of this shortage and explore strategies and solutions for recruiting and retaining behavioral health clinicians at the agency’s facilities. The Baldrige excellence framework undergirded the investigation. Data sources included interviews with three administrative …

Relationship Between Employee Engagement, Kind Of Initiatives, And Workplace Wellness Program Effectiveness, Alicia Dobrzeniecki

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective workplace wellness programs prevent organizations from decreasing employee health and well-being costs. Workplace wellness managers lose more than $1,100 in decreased productivity each year. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between workplace wellness engagement, kind of workplace wellness initiatives, and workplace wellness program effectiveness. Data were collected from 146 workplace wellness program managers who completed the HERO scorecard. The multiple linear regression analysis results indicated the model was able to significantly predict workplace wellness program effectiveness, F(2, 143) = 85.482, p = < .001, R² = .545. Both predictors provided a significant contribution to the model, with workplace wellness engagement level (t = 8.342, p = < .001, β = .543) providing a higher contribution to the model than kind of workplace wellness initiatives (t = 4.584, p = < .001, β = .298). A key recommendation for workplace wellness program managers is to emphasize employee engagement in workplace wellness programs and choose the appropriate initiatives to ensure workplace wellness program effectiveness. The implications for positive social change include the potential for improved health and well-being within the U.S. workforce.

The Perceptions Of Adult Patients Who Experience Needle Fear During Cosmetic Injections, Julia Hoy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAdult patients receiving cosmetic injections frequently experience needle fear symptoms which results in patient discomfort, suffering, and poor injection outcomes. The needle fear experience contributes to a decreased quality of life and possible avoidance behaviors involving other medical treatments requiring needles. Researchers have conducted quantitative studies which explored interventions on pain reduction but there are no qualitative studies from the perspectives of adults experiencing needle fear. The purpose of this research study was to explore the perceptions of needle fear in adult patients receiving cosmetic injections in a medical office setting. The interpretative phenomenological approach was used to provide an …

Water/Sanitation, Hygiene, And Risk Factors Associated With Under-5 Mortality In Côte D’Ivoire, Ouda Kamagate

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite remarkable progress in children’s survival since 1990, the global burden of the under-5 mortality rate (U5MR) remains immense. According to the World Health Organization, about 5.2 million children below 5 died in 2019, with 14,000 dying each day. Literature reveals that the lack and limitation of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) are linked to deaths in childhood. Cote d’Ivoire still lags behind expectations with 79 per 1000 live births in 2019 rather than 25 and below, so there is a need to uncover to what extent the U5MR is affected by WaSH. Through a cross-sectional design guided by the …

Improving Patients' Engagement And Retention In Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment, Leo W. Lavender

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance use disorder continues to be a major health crisis in the United States. Thousands of people die yearly due to substance use and related criminal activity. Substance abuse treatment is a remedy to the disorder and treatment centers admit thousands of patients yearly to address the dilemma. Throughout the years retention has been an ongoing barrier to successful treatment. This study explored significant obstacles to retention: motivation and engagement. The Baldrige Excellence Framework was utilized to assess the training, supervision, procedures, and leadership roles at an intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment center. This study utilized a qualitative approach case …

Risk Factors Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Among Adults In Alabama, Peter Okeke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the 21stcentury Diabetes mellitus is recognized as one of the most important public

health challenges that carry a substantial individual and community burden.

It is necessary to do a detailed search regarding DM2 from adolescence till adulthood is in

Alabama which should aim to provide recent information. T2D is influenced by a many

factors including demographics including age, sex, income level, educational, BMI,

physical activities, etc. Identification of the associated risk factors is very important to

inform decision making by concerned bodies and T2D management. The study aimed to

examine the risk factors associated with T2D in adults aged …

Improving Disinfectant Cap Use On Central Lines In The Icu To Reduce Patient Risk For Clabsi: A Quality Improvement Project, Tali Cherim

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are the most common type of preventable healthcare-associated bloodstream infection, and may increase length of stay (LOS), facility treatment costs, and patient mortality rates. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients are especially vulnerable to CLABSI due to their critical health conditions and other comorbid factors. A literature review provided evidence supporting the use of alcohol-impregnated disinfectant caps, such as SwabCap®, on central line (CL) ports to significantly reduce patients’ risk for CLABSI. This quality improvement project took place within an adult ICU of a Level II trauma facility in New England, where the Infection Prevention …

Vaccine Hesitancy Among Healthcare Workers In The Covid-19 Era, Gabriella Checchi

Capstone Showcase

Vaccination against harmful, deadly pathogens have been an essential tool in the scientific world and have shaped our community as we know it today. They have allowed us to live in a society where members of the community are protected from certain severe disease and can help to decrease the death toll of these diseases. Vaccines have allowed us to eradicate smallpox, a disease that ravaged the world and killed over 300 million people. They have been a one of the most useful advances in medical science so far. And yet today, as SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread rampantly throughout the …

Bodily Autonomy And Anti-Vaccine Discourse During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Haley Sherman

Capstone Showcase

This paper explores the relationship between anti-vaccine discourse and ideas about bodily autonomy. I analyze the cyclical nature of vaccine hesitancy and show that it can lead to misinformation and harmful narratives. This paper uses theories of bodily autonomy that identify a concept called moral obligation. This concept, as explored by Alberto Giubilini, is a utilitarian approach in which citizens have a responsibility to their governments to get vaccinated so that, in turn, their governments can fulfill their obligation of protecting other individuals’ health (Giubilini 2020, 54). A discourse analysis of four key players in the anti-vax movement shows that …

The Program To Reduce Implicit Bias In Carroll Hospital Center Using The Implicit Association Test, Katherine E. Traynor

Capstone Showcase

Natural brain processes make all individuals susceptible to unconscious bias; however, stressful, fearful, or anger-evoking situations as well as the negative influence of media and social surroundings increase the risk of holding obstructive bias, and there is a greater risk of being negatively impacted by this phenomenon when belonging to a minority population (Rose & Flores, 2020). As a result, high rates of infant mortality (10.2 deaths per 1,000 live births for the Non-Hispanic Black population compared to 4.1 in the White population) and cardiovascular related diseases (190.0 cases per 1,000 in the Non-Hispanic Black population compared to 161.3 in …

Non-Pharmacological Management Of Idiopathic/Persistent Dyspareunia, Iveshia Ford

Capstone Showcase

Painful sexual intercourse, or dyspareunia, is a condition numerous women experience. An unknown, but still important, number of those affected find no relief with medication or surgery. Yet, it can be difficult for patients to discuss concerns with their provider. In addition, many providers do not have an adequate comfort level to discuss such topics. This paper aims to equip providers with non-pharmacological treatment options which include pelvic floor physical therapy, sex therapy and lifestyle changes. With the cultural shifts and changing ideas of sexuality in today’s age, it is important that clinicians remain versed in sexual health and patient …

Understanding The Environmental Implications Of The Microbiome Of Canals In Bangkok, Thailand, Emma Tao

Scripps Senior Theses

The canals of Bangkok, Thailand hold significant economic and social value, yet the increasing urbanization of the city has resulted in increased water pollution. Agricultural runoff and urban waste contribute to the degradation of the water quality, which has impaired its safe usage by the people of the city. This study focused on analyzing the microbiome of the water in the canals in correlation with the surrounding environment, both in and out of the water. Ten sites along the Bangkok canals were analyzed. DNA was isolated for the sequencing of the 16s rRNA gene to determine the microbial diversity of …

The Cost-Effectiveness And Feminization Of The Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, Audrey Jammes

Scripps Senior Theses

Approved in 2006, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine provided a medical breakthrough in combating cancer by inoculating first female and then male adolescents in 2010. In 2016, a new HPV vaccine was approved for all adolescents. However, it is the most expensive vaccine created in the United States and its female centered prescription led to debates regarding the vaccine’s necessity and risks. For the STS portion of this paper, analysis of the language in the vaccine’s prescriptions from 2006, 2010, and 2016 demonstrates two implicit assumptions regarding female health built into the vaccine’s rollout. Comparison of the two assumptions to …

Mapping The Milk: Integrating Donor Human Milk Into Infant Nutrition Systems, Delaney Hartmann

Scripps Senior Theses

A human milk diet is an important part of the health and survival of all infants. A human milk diet is especially crucial for the most vulnerable preterm infants as it promotes a healthy gut and protects from Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). However, many preterm infants are unable to consume their mother’s own milk due to breastfeeding challenges resulting from early delivery. Therefore, nutritional supplementation is often necessary for preterm infants and donor human milk (DHM) is highly superior to baby formula. DHM in the United States is processed at the 29 not-for-profit Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) …

Covid-19 Patients With Documented Alcohol Use Disorder Or Alcohol-Related Complications Are More Likely To Be Hospitalized And Have Higher All-Cause Mortality, Kristina L. Bailey, Harlan Sayles, James Campbell, Neha Khalid, Madyson Anglim, Jana Ponce, Todd A. Wyatt, James C. Mcclay, Ellen L. Burnham, Alfred Anzalone, Corrine K. Hanson

Journal Articles: Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected every country globally, with hundreds of millions of people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and over 6 million deaths to date. It is unknown how alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects the severity and mortality of COVID-19. AUD is known to increase the severity and mortality of bacterial pneumonia and the risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome. Our objective is to determine whether individuals with AUD have increased severity and mortality from COVID-19.

METHODS: We utilized a retrospective cohort study of inpatients and outpatients from 44 centers participating in the National COVID Cohort …

The 2019 Philippine Uhc Act, Pandemic Management And Implementation Implications In A Post-Covid-19 World: A Content Analysis, Maria Cristina G. Bautista, Paulyn Jean Acacio-Claro, Nori Benjamin Mendoza, Christian Pulmano, Ma. Regina Justina Estuar, Manuel Dayrit, Vincent Festin, Madeleine Valera, Quirino Sugon Jr, Dennis Andrew Villamor

Graduate School of Business Publications

The 2019 Philippine Universal Health Care Act (Republic Act 11223) was set for implementation in January 2020 when disruptions brought on by the pandemic occurred. Will the provisions of the new UHC Act for an improved health system enable agile responses to forthcoming shocks, such as this COVID-19 pandemic? A content analysis of the 2019 Philippine UHC Act can identify neglected and leverage areas for systems’ improvement in a post-pandemic world. While content or document analysis is commonly undertaken as part of scoping or systematic reviews of a qualitative nature, quantitative analyses using a two-way mixed effects, consistency, multiple raters …

Beyond The Covid-19 Pandemic: The Importance Of Social Determinants Of Health In Educating Healthcare Leaders, Tashuna Albritton, Miguel Muñoz-Laboy, Umadevi Yokeeswaran, Marlene Camacho-Rivera

Publications and Research

As scholars of color and educators in the health professions, we are compelled to advocate for the inclusion of the study of health disparities and social determinants of health (SDOH) throughout higher education to understand, analyze, and effectively respond to healthcare access disparities, including COVID-19 disparities, in Black and Latinx communities across the United States. In addition to our identities and lived experiences, healthcare access disparities and their root causes are woven throughout the courses that we teach in the departments of social medicine, social work, and social and behavioral sciences.