Public Health Commons^™

Project L.E.A.N.: An After-School Health And Exercise Project For Elementary School Children In El Paso, Texas, Hendrik De Heer

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: After-school activities provide valuable opportunities for health promotion activities that do not interfere with the regular school day, especially in minority populations with higher rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The current study is an evaluation of an after-school health education and physical activity program conducted in nine elementary schools in 2008 in El Paso, Texas. METHODS: The intervention consisted of a 10-12 week (twice a week) after school program consisting of a pilot (with two experimental schools) and main intervention (six schools each including a control and experimental group). The main outcome variables were Body Mass Index, …

Public Water Fluoridation, Jessica Fohey

Honors Program Theses

This thesis project addresses the issue of public water fluoridation. There is a debate within the United States as to whether or not public water systems should be fluoridated. Because of the large scale potential health impact, it is critical to determine whether or not this practice is in the best interest of the public. This paper provides an extensive review of scientific literature on the effectiveness, safety, and cost effectiveness of public water fluoridation. Following the review of scientific literature, I will present an overview of pseudo-scientific literature which advocates against public water fluoridation that, although often not scientifically …

Implications For Nursing Practice: Delivering The Folic Acid Message, Kimberly Townsend Little

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In 1995, North Carolina (NC) had one of the highest prevalence rates of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the United States. Since the NC Folic Acid Council began focusing their efforts on educating women of childbearing age regarding NTDs in 1994, the prevalence of NTDs has declined overall by 40%; however, NTD prevalence among Hispanics in NC continues to be double the rate of non-Hispanics. Research has found daily consumption of a multivitamin with folic acid significantly decreases NTDs. Healthy People 2010 include in their objectives the need to increase folic acid consumption in women and reduce the NTD rates. …

Establishing Public Health Security In A Postwar Iraq: Constitutional Obstacles And Lessons For Other Federalizing States, David P. Fidler, Kumanan Wilson, Christopher W. Mcdougall, Harvey Lazar

Articles by Maurer Faculty

The public health consequences of the conflict in Iraq will likely continue after the violence has subsided. Reestablishing public health security will require large investments in infrastructure and the creation of effective systems of governance. On the question of governance, the allocation of powers in the new constitution of Iraq is critical. Given the ease with which public health threats cross borders, the constitution needs to grant to the federal government the legal authority to manage such threats and simultaneously meet international requirements. Unfortunately, the draft constitution does not accomplish this objective. If politically possible, the constitution should be amended …

Validation Of Inverse Seasonal Peak Mortality In Medieval Plagues, Including The Black Death, In Comparison To Modern Yersinia Pestis-Variant Diseases, Mark R. Welford, Brian H. Bossak

Earth, Environment & Sustainability: Faculty Publications

Background: Recent studies have noted myriad qualitative and quantitative inconsistencies between the medieval Black Death (and subsequent ‘‘plagues’’) and modern empirical Y. pestis plague data, most of which is derived from the Indian and Chinese plague outbreaks of A.D. 1900615 years. Previous works have noted apparent differences in seasonal mortality peaks during Black Death outbreaks versus peaks of bubonic and pneumonic plagues attributed to Y. pestis infection, but have not provided spatiotemporal statistical support. Our objective here was to validate individual observations of this seasonal discrepancy in peak mortality between historical epidemics and modern empirical data.

Methodology/Principal Findings: …

Hiv Rates In The State Of Georgia: A Growing Threat Among Predominately African American Populations, Swati Raychowdhury, Stuart H. Tedders

Epidemiology: Faculty Publications (2002-2018)

Background: US rates of HIV/AIDS continue to rise with over 55% of new cases identified in southern states in 2003. The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of HIV/AIDS cases in rural southeast Georgia in comparison to urban areas of the state.

Methods: County level data was acquired using OASIS. Rates of HIV infections by gender and race (black vs. white) were aggregated over a five year period (2000–2005) and indirectly adjusted using Georgia as the standard. Rates for rural counties, (populations less than 35,000), were statistically compared to urban rates (α = 0.05).

Results: HIV infections …

The Role Of Resilience And Purpose In Life In Habituation To Heat And Cold Pain, Bruce W. Smith, Erin M. Tooley

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

This study examined the role of resilience in habituation to heat and cold pain in healthy women (n = 47). Heat and cold pain thresholds were each assessed across 5 equally spaced trials. Re- silience, purpose in life, optimism, social support, and neuroticism were assessed using self-report measures. The hypothesis was that the resilience and the associated resilience factors would be pos- itively related to habituation to heat and cold pain while controlling for neuroticism. Multilevel mod- eling was used to test the hypothesis. When considering each characteristic separately, resilience and purpose in life predicted greater habituation to heat pain …

When Every Drop Counts: The Public Health Impact Of Drought, Steven Konkel

Environmental Health Planning and Policy

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Information And Communication Technologies In Managing Transition And Sustaining Women's Health During Their Midlife Years, Julie Dare

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research has been motivated primarily by a desire to extend and enrich existing research on women’s uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to manage relationships, and access and construct social support during their transitional midlife years. In doing so, this research addresses a gap in the literature on women’s consumption of such technologies. Since the late 1980s, when several landmark studies investigated women’s use of the telephone, there has been little systematic evaluation of the degree to which newer communication technologies have become integrated into women’s communication practices.

Another key feature of this research is an examination of …

Test Of A Multidisciplinary Health Behavior Model Of Medicare Elders' Antihypertensive Acquisitions, Ann Marie Kopitzke

Health Services Research Dissertations

This study examined the relative utility of the enhanced Health Belief Model as compared to the proposed Pharmaceutical Acquisition Model for Medicare Elders (PAMME) in describing antihypertensive acquisition with usage intentions for Medicare elders (65 years or older) in Southeastern Virginia. Data collection included record reviews to identify hypertensive Medicare elders. Consenting Medicare elders were randomly selected for invitation, with consenting Medicare elders contacted by telephone or in-person interviews. The survey instrument utilized open and closed ended questions. The target population for this study is Southeastern Virginia Medicare elders enrolled in a Part D plan and prescribed at least one …

Children's Exposure To Lead And Nickel In Esperance - A Case Study, Matthew Tristan Winters

Theses : Honours

This is a cross-sectional study of lead and nickel exposure of children aged 2-12 years living at varying distances from a point source of pollution in Esperance. Esperance was an ideal case study location because of previous environmental contamination with lead and nickel above background levels. Non-invasive biological samples of hair, toenails and urine were collected from participating children, and environmental samples, including house dust, soil and drinking water were also sampled from each participant household. Exposure was assessed by measuring the concentration of metals found in the biological samples, and determining their relationships with the environmental samples from each …

Self-Determination Theory In Motivation To Adopt Physical Activity In Older Adults: A Community Based Approach, Alastair Stewart

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Australia has an increasingly aging population with increasing levels of physical inactivity. The potential detrimental effects of these two factors on the health of the community highlight the need to investigate methods to increase physical activity in older Australian adults. The study reported in this thesis formed part of the PATH (Physical Activity Time for Health) Project, a community-based research trial that compared two strategies to increase physical activity in underactive, 60-80 year old men (n = 66) and women (n = 188). Twelve recreation centres were randomised to either a supervised group based walking intervention with behavioural change components, …

Computing Travel Time When The Exact Address Is Unknown: A Comparison Of Point And Polygon Zip Code Approximation Methods, Ethan M. Berke, Xun Shi

Dartmouth Scholarship

Travel time is an important metric of geographic access to health care. We compared strategies of estimating travel times when only subject ZIP code data were available.Using simulated data from New Hampshire and Arizona, we estimated travel times to nearest cancer centers by using: 1) geometric centroid of ZIP code polygons as origins, 2) population centroids as origin, 3) service area rings around each cancer center, assigning subjects to rings by assuming they are evenly distributed within their ZIP code, 4) service area rings around each center, assuming the subjects follow the population distribution within the ZIP code. We used …

Front Matter

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

The Beginning Of Public Health In Michigan Michigan State Board Of Health Reports, 1873-1900, G. Elaine Beane, Robert E. Mosher

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Changes In Immunization Practices, Knowledge And Beliefs Of Michigan Obstetrician-Gynecologists Since 2000, Meaghan A. Leddy, Bernard Gonik, Stanley A. Gall, Britta A. Anderson, Jay Schulkin

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

H1n1 And Michigan, Violanda Grigorescu

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Using Card Matching Games To Reinforce Health Concepts At A Public Health Event, George W. Dombi

Michigan Journal of Public Health

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer for males and females combined, after lung cancer. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may play a role in colorectal cancer prevention. During March 13-18, 2009, the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Network (CRAN) of Southeastern Michigan, in partnership with Get Your Guts in Gear presented CoCo the Colossal Colon®, a 40-foot long, human colon model at the Detroit Science Center. Healthyfood card matching games were played to reinforced the message of fruit and vegetable consumption for good colon health. The goal of this report is to show how to make and use …

An Effective Alcohol Prevention Program In Kent County, Michigan, Donald Tex Bryant

Michigan Journal of Public Health

Over a two year period the “Making Sobriety Attractive” program directed by Alert Labs has significantly decreased the use of alcohol and marijuana at a high school in Kent County, Michigan. The program uses an environmental approach by placing posters with messages that correct students’ misperceptions of alcohol and drug use at their school with the correct data about the actual use of these substances. The figures for the actual use are drawn from an annual survey of the students. As students begin to accept the messages about the actual use of illegal substances, their own use declines as they …

Quality Improvement In Small Office Settings: An Examination Of Successful Practices., Daniel Wolfson, Elizabeth Bernabeo, Brian Leas, Shoshanna Sofaer, Gregory Pawlson, Donna Pillittere

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Physicians in small to moderate primary care practices in the United States (U.S.) (<25>physicians) face unique challenges in implementing quality improvement (QI) initiatives, including limited resources, small staffs, and inadequate information technology systems 23,36. This qualitative study sought to identify and understand the characteristics and organizational cultures of physicians working in smaller practices who are actively engaged in measurement and quality improvement initiatives.

METHODS: We undertook a qualitative study, based on semi-structured, open-ended interviews conducted with practices (N = 39) that used performance data to drive quality improvement activities.

RESULTS: Physicians indicated that benefits to performing measurement and …

Association Between Human Papillomavirus Infection And Oral Carcinomas, Amanda K. Summers

International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities

There are over 100 different types of Human Papillomavirus, also known as HPV⁴. It is a group of DNA viruses that can infect various parts of the body by changing normal cells into abnormal cells. HPV types are divided into high-risk and low-risk types. HPV types that are considered high-risk types have the potential to cause cancer. The low-risk HPV types may cause visible cell abnormalities, like skin warts. It is approximated that 20 million Americans are currently infected with some strain of Human Papillomavirus and another 6.2 million people are newly infected each year⁵. Oral …

Cellular Telephones And Cancer: Is There A Connection?, James Bolton

International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities

Cellular telephones have been accused of causing brain tumors for years, but none of the studies that have been published have proven there is a link. The tumors that have been researched include parotid gland tumors, acoustic neuromas, and acoustic gliomas, to name a few. Wireless cellular phone usage has been increasing over the past few years, and some European countries are said to have a penetration rate of over 100%, "which is to say there are more subscribers than inhabitants"². Wireless technology emits electromagnetic energy (AKA microwave radiation or radiofrequency radiation), and sources include not only cellular …

Bubonic Plague: History And Epidemiology, Morgan Siegrist

International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities

The general population has heard about Black Death outbreaks and more specifically the pandemic that started in Europe and spread worldwide between the 14th-16th centuries, but what many do not know is that this disease is still a prominent concern in modern times. Each year, 1000-3000 people die due to this disease. Cases have been reported in Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Myanmar, Peru, Viet Nam, and even the USA (Keeling & Gilligan, 2000; Zietz & Dunkelberg, 2004). The bubonic plague is caused by Yersinia pestis, and the disease is considered a zoonosis 132 International Journal of Global …

Information For Authors

International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities

No abstract provided.

Increased Strength And Physical Performance With Eccentric Training In Women With Impaired Glucose Tolerance: A Pilot Study, Robin L. Marcus, Paul C. Lastayo, Leland E. Dibble, Laura Hill, Donald A. Mcclain

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Background: Menopause is associated with both a loss of muscle mass and a worsening of insulin sensitivity (IS). Although eccentric resistance exercise (ECC) can effectively improve muscle mass over time, a single bout of ECC can worsen IS. This study assessed the effect of repeated ECC on IS, muscle mass, and function in postmenopausal women with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

Methods: Sixteen PM women (aged 56 years +/- 6.4) with IGT were randomly assigned to a 12-week, knee extensor ECC program (n = 10) or a nonexercise control group (CON) (n = 6). Participants underwent hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps, dual-energy …

2008 - 2009 Touro College Project Aspire Yearbook, Touro College Project Aspire

Yearbooks and Newsletters

With the support of Touro College's School of Health Sciences and the Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Project Aspire is a program offered for pre-kindergarten through first grade students and their families at P.S. 197 in Harlem, New York. The program provides basic education on health and promotes healthy lifestyle choices including proper nutrition and exercise.

Wikipedia, Me, And Ohp, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Relationship Between The Mind Map Learning Strategy And Crtitical Thinking In Medical Students, Anthony V. D'Antoni

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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