Public Health Commons^™

The Politics And Economics Of Health: A Cross-National Comparison Of Civic Engagement And Health Status, Suzanne J. Wood

School of Public Service Theses & Dissertations

Over the past two decades, various structural modifications associated with the provision of national health and its systems have been undertaken. The preponderance of liberalization experiences have occurred in the absence of epidemiological, political, or social considerations associated with adoption and implementation. Often, financial and political manipulation by international organizations and powerful foreign governments has served as the impetus for fundamental shifts leading to an asymmetrical distribution of resources by population density, geography, and along various socio-cultural boundaries. Consequently, structural adjustments have resulted in unpredictable and divergent outcomes with regard to health status. The question of whether or not health …

Correlation Between Acculturation And Health Promotion Behavior Among Hispanics/Latinos In Black Hawk County, Iowa, Ki-Hyung Park

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The elimination of the health disparities between different segments of population such as ethnic or racial minority groups in the United States is one of the principal goals of Healthy People 2010. Since 2002, the Hispanic/Latino population has been the largest minority group in the United States, and currently Hispanic/Latinos are the largest minority group in Iowa. The study assesses the relationships among health status, health promoting behavior, and acculturation of Hispanic/Latino immigrants in Black Hawk County, Iowa. A community sample of 54 adults completed a face-to-face structured interview. The instrumentation included the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II), …

The Relationship Between Nutritional Knowledge And Consumption Attitudes Toward Soy-Foods Among A Midwest Rural America Older Population, Li Chuan Chen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Preservation of good health in old age has become significantly important to most older people. Increasing health care costs challenge the majority of the rapidly growing older population. The use of functional foods (i.e., soy foods, oats, and broccoli) to help reduce the risk of chronic disease and relieve physical discomfort is one of the major health care developments in many economically advanced countries. For older people consumption of functional foods is not only cost-effective, but also necessary. Soy-based foods were first identified as a healthy as well as functional food during the last decade of the twentieth century by …

Process Evaluation Of A School- And Home-Based Sun Safety Education Intervention, Robyn S. Johnston

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Effective interventions that reduce children's sun exposure are likely to reduce melanoma incidence in the longer term. However, for such interventions to have an impact they must be adequately implemented. School-based sun protection programs have been evaluated to determine their effectiveness in changing behaviours, however, few studies have assessed the implementation of such programs, or the effect of their implementation on outcomes. Kidskin was a five-year intervention trial designed to assess the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention in reducing sun exposure in children in Perth, Western Australia. This thesis describes the process evaluation of the school- and home-based educational components …

Neck Loading In High Performance Combat Pilots During Aerial Combat Manoeuvres And Specific Neck Strengthening Exercises, Kevin J. Netto

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background: Neck pain and injury is a common occurrence in high performance combat pilots (HPCP) around the world. The cause of this has been attributed to exposure to the unavoidable high mechanical loading related to the neck being positioned in non-neutral head postures whilst being exposed to moderate to high +Gz levels. Specific neck conditioning exercises have been proposed as being a possible method to decrease the incidence of neck pain and injury in this population. However, there has been sparsely published research examining the suitability of selected exercises for HPCP who participate in regular aerial combat manoeuvres (ACM).

Confined Space Fatalities, Ciaran Maccarron

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The extent of work related fatal accidents has been analysed statistically by agencies throughout the world. As a result of this analysis there is a wealth of information available categorised by industry types, sub-industry, occupation, sex, age, nature of occurrence, bodily location, agency of occurrence and mechanism of injury. It is however extremely difficult to identify information pertaining to confined space fatalities such as contributory factors, mechanisms of injury and other data of an epidemiological nature.

Controlling And Constraining The Participation Of The Hepatitis C-Affected Community In Australia: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of The First National Hepatitis C Strategy And Selected News Media Texts, Judith D. Pugh

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The construction of texts that place hepatitis C-positive persons at social risk (Candlin, 1989, p. ix), informs this study of the ways in which public health policy makers and journalists in Australia communicate about hepatitis C. The institutions of public health and the news media form part of the cultural context within which persons construct their illness narratives. The privileged perspectives and framing of public health policy and news media discourses; the discursive practices associated with the institutions of public health and the media around hepatitis C and hepatitis C-positive persons, the “objects” of knowledge (Foucault, 1969/2002, p. 81); and …

Exploring Young People's Concepts Of Smoking Addiction: Perceived Opportunities To Try Smoking Without Becoming Addicted, Calvin Wang

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study explores how young people conceptualise addiction to smoking and, also the relationship between young people's addiction beliefs and intentions to smoke cigarettes. Addiction to smoking is a major health problem, not just for adults, but also for young smokers, up to 60% of whom are dependent on nicotine. However, anti-smoking prevention efforts targeted at young people generally emphasise ill-health effects and little attention is paid to addiction education which is generally considered relevant only to adult smoking and cessation efforts. Perhaps as a consequence, young people appear to have many misconceptions and unrealistic ideas about addiction, and these …

Health Information Access

The Southeastern Librarian

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern Atlantic Region, wishes to remind libraries in the region that they provide training and assistance with health information access to the public.

A Hybrid Model For Reducing Ecological Bias, Ruth Salway, Jon Wakefield

UW Biostatistics Working Paper Series

A major drawback of epidemiological ecological studies, in which the association between area-level summaries of risk and exposure are used to make inference about individual risk, is the difficulty in characterising within-area variability in exposure and confounder variables. To avoid ecological bias, samples of individual exposure/confounder data within each area are required. Unfortunately these may be difficult or expensive to obtain, particularly if large samples are required. In this paper we propose a new approach suitable for use with small samples. We combine a Bayesian non-parametric Dirichlet process prior with an estimating functions approach, and show that this model gives …

Public Health Practitioner Expert Opinion For Recommending Revisions To A Community Nutrition Mph Curriculum

Florida Public Health Review

No abstract provided.

Health-Exposure Modelling And The Ecological Fallacy, Jon Wakefield, Gavin Shaddick

UW Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Recently there has been increased interest in modelling the association between aggregate disease counts and environmental exposures measured, for example via air pollution monitors, at point locations. This paper has two aims: first we develop a model for such data in order to avoid ecological bias; second we illustrate that modelling the exposure surface and estimating exposures may lead to bias in estimation of health effects. Design issues are also briefly considered, in particular the loss of information in moving from individual to ecological data, and the at-risk populations to consider in relation to the pollution monitor locations. The approach …

Dump Truck Driver Dies After Unintentional Release Of Asphalt, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Motor Vehicle

On June 6, 2005 a 55-year-old male dump truck driver (Driver 1) died when he was buried waist deep in 400-degree Fahrenheit asphalt. Driver 1 stopped along the highway to help another dump truck driver (Driver 2), (both were independent truck drivers), who had experienced brake problems. As the two men were examining the pneumatic brake system at the rear of the disabled dump truck, the tailgate opened unexpectedly, spilling hot asphalt onto the decedent who was under the rear of the truck.

To prevent similar incidents, the following recommendations have been made:

Recommendation No. 1: Tailgate chains should always …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 81, No. 23 [25], Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news. Articles in this issue:

• Leslie, Joey. More Students Tested During AIDS Day
• Hupman, Samantha. J-term More Popular than Anticipated
• Fontana, Alex. Student Government Association Proposes New Bicycles for Police
• Bosken, Nina. Students Dodge, Duck, Dive for Charity and Prizes – Special Olympics
• Richardson, Kelly. Kentucky Community Technical College System Requests Funding – KCTCS
• Taking the Next Step – Cultural Diversity
• Eoff, Allison. Pass on Adderall
• Gabler, R. XXX Ads Disappointing
• Williams, Suzanne. A Woman’s Heart
• Hupman, Samantha. Two Fights Reported on Hill
• Paul, Corey. Kwanzaa to Be Celebrated Today …

Redesigning Practice To Improve Care Delivery (Boston), Laura A. Dummit, Lisa Sprague

National Health Policy Forum

This site visit focused on how the practice of medicine is changing or can be changed to improve care delivery across the spectrum of patient populations. Regarded as a “medical Mecca,” Boston is home to the academic health centers and teaching hospitals where many of the nation’s physicians are trained. As a center of innovation, Boston prides itself on its high bar with respect to standards of care. Panels addressed the used of clinical information technology (IT) in the physician’s office, in the hospital, and community-wide. Participants observed how IT is being used to further the mission of community health …

History-Adjusted Marginal Structural Models To Estimate Time-Varying Effect Modification , Maya L. Petersen, Steven G. Deeks, Jeffrey N. Martin, Mark J. Van Der Laan

U.C. Berkeley Division of Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Much of epidemiology and clinical medicine is focused on the estimation of treatments or interventions administered over time. In such settings of longitudinal treatment, time-dependent confounding is often an important source of bias. Marginal structural models are a powerful tool for estimating the causal effect of a treatment using observational data, particularly when time-dependent confounding is present. Recent statistical work presented a generalization of marginal structural models, called history-adjusted marginal structural models. Unlike standard marginal structural models, history-adjusted marginal structural models can be used to estimate modification of treatment effects by time-varying covariates. Estimation of time-dependent causal effect modification is …

The Perceptions Of Roles And Practices Of Preceptors And Their Expectations For Students In The Coordinated Program In Dietetics At Indiana State University, Carin R. Aloisio

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dietetics education requires a minimum of a baccalaureate degree and 900 hours of supervised practice for eligibility of candidates to sit for the Registration Exam. The primary goals of this study are to determine perceptions of preceptors of supervised practice about their roles and practices and their expectations for students, and to compare and/or contrast these between the three main areas of dietetics: clinical, community and food service management.

Spatial Autocorrelation Of Deer-Vehicle Accidents In Vigo County, J. Scott Horn

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Deer-vehicle accidents (DV As) are a problem in many areas. They cause millions of dollars in property damage, personal injury, and loss of life each year. This thesis examines whether DVAs in Vigo County, Indiana during the year 2000 were spatially autocorrelated; and whether DV As selected by deer habitat were spatially autocorrelated. Specifically using Moran's I to test for spatial autocorrelation this study determined if and to what degree spatial autocorrelation existed among these DVAs. A Moran's I value of .0023 shows that the accidents occurred randomly. These DV A data were then used to plot a map which …

High Potency And Other Alcoholic Beverage Consumption Among Adolescents, Edessa C. Jobli, Heather S. Dore, Chudley Werch, Michele Johnson Moore

Public Health Faculty Research and Scholarship

This study examined the prevalence of high potency (liquor, malt liquor, fortified wine) and other alcoholic beverage consumption (beer, wine/wine coolers) among adolescents, the impact of gender and ethnicity, and the risk and protective factors that predicted consumption. A confidential survey revealed that, among eighth grade students, wine/wine coolers were the most popular alcoholic beverages, with the highest levels of lifetime use, and the greatest current frequency and quantity of use, followed closely by beer and liquor. Minor gender differences were found, as well as notable ethnic differences, in consumption. Intentions and attitudes were important predictors of use across beverages. …

Asthma Management Programs In Managed Care Organizations, Christine W. Hartmann Mss, Phd, Vittorio Maio Pharmd, Ms, Neil I. Goldfarb, Nicole M. Cobb Maom, David B. Nash

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

The aim of this work was to investigate how managed care organizations (MCOs) currently approach asthma treatment and management and to determine factors affecting asthma outcomes. A Web-based survey was administered to a national sample of 351 medical directors of MCOs to investigate the asthma management program components in their organizations as well as gaps and barriers in the management of patients with asthma. All 134 (38.2%) responding medical directors reported that their organizations monitor asthma patients. Plans use a variety of asthma management activities, including general member education (90%), member education by mail (87%), self-management education (85%), and provider …

Remote Physiological Monitoring: Clinical, Financial, And Behavioral Outcomes In A Heart Failure Population, Laurel R. Hudson Msn, Rn, G. Brent Hamar Dds, Mph, Patty Orr Rn, Edd, Jeffrey H. Johnson Bs, Amy Neftzger Ma, Richard S. Chung Md, Myra L. Williams Mph, William M. Gandy Edd, Albert Crawford Phd, Mba, Msis, Janice L. Clarke Rn, Bba, Neil I. Goldfarb

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

This article reports on the outcomes associated with remote physiological monitoring (RPM) conducted as part of a heart failure disease management program. Claims data, medical records, data transmission records, and survey results for 91 individuals ages 50–92 (mean 74 years) successfully completing a heart failure RPM program were analyzed for time periods before, during, and after the monitoring intervention. The program was associated with significant reductions in per member per month costs and emergency room and hospital utilization. More detailed analyses were performed for specific gender and age subgroups. Participant surveys indicated high levels of satisfaction, and improvements in self-perceived …

Eating Behavior And Obesity Risk Of Youth Living In The City Of San Bernardino, California, Carolyn A. Corder

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Adolescents living in the City of San Bernardino, California, are susceptible to health risks due to high rates of violence, suicide, teen pregnancy, and poverty, which place them among the most vulnerable in the Nation to disability, early death, unhealthy offspring, illiteracy, economic disadvantage, and chronic disease. This study analyzed data from the Youth Risk Behavior (YRBS) and local surveys conducted in the City’s Unified School District from 1999 through 2001. The investigators focused on the relationship, if any, of dietary and anthropometric factors to the priority adolescent behaviors targeted for intervention by the Healthy People 2010 objectives: accidental injuries …

Factors Related To Delayed Time For Hiv Care Among Youth Living With Hiv: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Social Support Networks And Access To Care, Patricia L. Jones

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose: This research explored the pattern of influence social support networks had on delayed time between diagnosis and first doctor’s visit after diagnosis of HIV in youth. Results showed that factors related to receiving a referral were prosocial peer behaviors and excessive fibbing in the past 6 months. The study identified sources of social support and described the relationship between the source of support and time of first doctor’s visit after HIV diagnosis. Both descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed on all youth (N=347) and specifically on those seeking care. Methodology: Historical data were extracted from the baseline dataset of …

Chaotic Desynchronization Of Multistrain Diseases, Ira Schwartz, Leah Shaw, Derek Cummings, Lora Billings, Marie Mccrary, Donald Burke

Department of Mathematics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Multistrain diseases are diseases that consist of several strains, or serotypes. The serotypes may interact by antibody-dependent enhancement rADE, in which infection with a single serotype is asymptomatic, but infection with a second serotype leads to serious illness accompanied by greater infectivity. It has been observed from serotype data of dengue hemorrhagic fever that outbreaks of the four serotypes occur asynchronously. Both autonomous and seasonally driven outbreaks were studied in a model containing ADE. For sufficiently small ADE, the number of infectives of each serotype synchronizes, with outbreaks occurring in phase. When the ADE increases past a threshold, the system …

Are Specific Language Impairment And Dyslexia Distinct Disorders?, Hugh W. Catts, Suzanne M. Adlof, Tiffany Hogan, Susan Ellis Weismer

Faculty Publications

Purpose - The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific language impairment (SLI) and dyslexia are distinct developmental disorders.

Method - Study 1 investigated the overlap between SLI identified in kindergarten and dyslexia identified in 2nd, 4th, or 8th grades in a representative sample of 527 children. Study 2 examined phonological processing in a subsample of participants, including 21 children with dyslexia only, and 43 children with SLI only, 18 children with SLI and dyslexia, and 165 children with typical language/reading development. Measures of phonological awareness and nonword repetition were considered.

Results - Study 1 showed limited but …

Sources Of Variation In Nutrient Intakes Among Men In Shanghai, China, Hui Cai, Gong Yang, Yong-Bing Xiang, James R. Hébert, Da-Ke Liu, Wei Zheng, Xiao-Ou Shu

Faculty Publications

Background and objective: Random errors, from any source, will attenuate epidemiological risk estimates. Before we launched the Shanghai Men’s Health Study (SMHS), a large population-based cohort study investigating the diet–cancer association among Chinese men, a dietary calibration study was conducted among 96 men aged 40–75 years (mean age 56.5 years), with biweekly 24-hour dietary recalls (24HDRs) implemented over a 1-year period. Data from this study were analysed to evaluate the nature and magnitude of variances for intake of 26 nutrients among SMHS participants, to compare variance ratios of 26 nutrients among Chinese men and women and individuals in other studies, …

Download Full Pdf Issue Volume1, Issue 1 - Msph Newsletter 2005

Public Health Link

Inaugural Issue Master of Science in Public Health Student Newsletter. Newsletter includes thesis presenters and topics, upcoming events, reminders, and student opportunities.

Download Full Pdf Issue Volume1, Issue 2 - Msph Newsletter 2005

Public Health Link

This is the second issue from 2005 and includes student thesis topics, reminders, updates, and upcoming events.

Intimate Partner Violence And Disabilities Among Women Attending Family Practice Clinics, Ann L. Coker, Paige H. Smith, Mary Kay Fadden

CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles

Purpose: To estimate the frequency and type of disabilities preventing work among those experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) compared with those never experiencing IPV.

Methods: We used a large cross-sectional survey of women, ages 18–65, attending family practice clinics from 1997 through 1998. Participation included a 5–10-minute in-clinic survey assessing IPV experience and a longer telephone survey assessing health status and chronic disabilities that prevented work outside the home or housework.

Results: Of 1,152 eligible women surveyed, 54% experienced some type of IPV, and 24% were currently in a violent relationship. Women who had ever experienced IPV …

Medicare Advantage Snps: A New Opportunity For Integrated Care?, Christie Provost Peters

National Health Policy Forum

Medicare Advantage special needs plans (SNPs) are a new type of coordinated care plan established by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act. SNPs were created to encourage greater access to Medicare managed care for certain special needs populations: the institutionalized, persons dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, and the chronically ill. Some view SNPs as a new opportunity to integrate acute and long-term care services as well as Medicare and Medicaid financing. Others, however, question the degree to which full integration will become a widespread reality. This issue brief examines the SNP option and the promises and challenges …