Public Health Commons^™

Facilitators, Barriers, And Strategies For Supporting Shared Decision-Making With People With Intellectual Disability: A West Australian Primary Healthcare Professional Perspective, Kathryn Teale, Abigail Lewis, Rachel Skoss

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Shared decision-making between patients and primary healthcare professionals positively impacts health outcomes. However, people with intellectual disability face additional barriers and require supported shared decision-making (SSDM) to participate. Little is known about how healthcare professionals use SSDM with this population. This paper explores the facilitators and barriers experienced, and strategies/resources employed by healthcare professionals working with people with intellectual disability. Method: Ten purposively sampled primary healthcare professionals participated in semi-structured interviews. This descriptive qualitative study used content analysis. Findings were compared with a proposed model of factors influencing triadic (the person with intellectual disability, their caregiver and the healthcare …

Focus On Frailty: Co-Designing Digital Frailty Education With Healthcare Students, Kristiana Ludlow, Sarah Martin, Benignus Logan, Ruth E. Hubbard, Nicola Warren, Olivia Gallagher, Bonnie K. Kwok, Rosemary Saunders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Frailty is prevalent in hospitals and is associated with adverse events and poor health outcomes. In Australia, there is a need for co-designed, multidisciplinary, and contextually relevant frailty education to improve healthcare students’ understanding and knowledge of frailty within the hospital setting. Objective: This study aimed to i) explore healthcare students’ understanding of frailty and their experiences with patients who are frail, and ii) seek healthcare students’ design ideas for the content of a new digital frailty education course.

Methods: Participants were university students enrolled in a health-related degree. Online focus groups and interviews were conducted between August and …

Improving Hpv Vaccine Rates For Aboriginal Young People Through A Social Media Campaign: An Interrupted Time Series, Natalie A. Strobel, Jocelyn Jones, Kim Gates, Simon L. Turner, Joanne E. Mckenzie, Daniel R. Mcaullay

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that can lead to HPV-related cancers such as cervical cancer and other cancers such as anal, vaginal, and penile cancer. HPV rarely produces symptoms and cannot be cured or treated; therefore, vaccination is essential to protect against HPV and HPV-related diseases. However, young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter, respectfully, ‘Aboriginal’) people are not receiving their HPV vaccine dose, resulting in missed opportunities to be protected from HPV-related cancers. Health promotion is a critical way to empower people to take ownership over and control their health and is a core function …

Early, Standardised, And Precise Treatment Of Copd Exacerbations And Covid-19, Sanjay Ramakrishnan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background: Background Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common chronic condition causing significant morbidity and mortality. Patients with COPD report sudden episodes of deteriorating respiratory symptoms called exacerbations, often presumed to be precipitated by infections. COPD is in the top 5 causes of death globally. COPD exacerbations drive a large proportion of these deaths. Despite this, there is no standardised model of care for the sickest patients who need hospitalisations for exacerbations. Meanwhile, treatment for COPD exacerbations continues to be guided by symptoms, instead of underlying biology. Most patients are treated with unnecessary and harmful systemic corticosteroids. During the …

The Impacts Of Covid-19 Restrictions On Care-Givers Of People With Cognitive Impairment And Their Support Needs: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review, Loretta Baldassar, Thi N. M. Nguyen, Bronte Jones, Catriona Stevens, Lukasz Krzyzowski, Silvia Lozeva, Simone Marino, Maria G. C. Du Plooy, Johanne Eldridge, Osvaldo P. Almeida, Manonita Ghosh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing restrictions/lockdowns have caused significant physical and psychological consequences for people with cognitive impairment who are heavily dependent on their care-givers. However, little is known about the impact on care-givers, the factors that exacerbate their situation and what supports they need. The aims of this paper are threefold: (a) to examine the impact of COVID-19 physical restrictions on both formal and informal care-givers of people with cognitive impairment; (b) to identify attributing factors influencing this impact; and (c) to recognise their support needs. Further, this paper informs future research, policy and practice. Guided by the Joanna …

Support For Older People Living With Chronic Life-Limiting Illnesses In Rural Ghana, Barbara Adonteng-Kissi, Obed Adonteng-Kissi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Summary: This research aims to address formal support needs of informal caregivers (ICs) in the context of long-term care of older people (OP) living with chronic life-limiting illnesses and examine the relationships of ICs of OP with formal support in rural Ghana. We undertook ethnographic interviews with 15 OP; 15 ICs; and 10 healthcare professionals (HPs) after participatory observations during 6 months of fieldwork. This was supported with daily field notes used to collect the needed data and purposively sampled across Gomoa West District in Ghana. The average age of participants was 76 years. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, using …

Navigating Ethical Complexities In Health Education: Exploring Challenges In Teaching Food And Health, E. Oljans, M. Quennerstedt, D. Barker, A. Caldeborg, V. Varea

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Teaching food and health may be challenging, especially in classrooms where young people from different cultures, ethnicities, and religions meet. This article explores teachers’ navigation of ethical complexities when teaching food and health in classrooms with immigrant students. Five didactical strategies were identified: (1) The educare strategy, (2) The tiptoeing strategy, (3) The collegial support strategy, (4) The intercultural strategy, and (5) The pluralistic strategy. These didactical strategies are embedded in various educational settings. Our results demonstrate that a further focus on ethical and intercultural competence should be carefully supported and implemented in teacher education and continual professional development programmes …

Better Sleep Hygiene Is Associated With Better Sleep Health In Mining Shift Workers In Australia, Philipp Beranek, Ian C. Dunican, Travis Cruickshank, Mitchell Turner

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Australia's mine sites are largely situated in remote locations and operate around the clock. Many shift workers fly to site, where they work 12-hr shifts and sleep in camp accommodation before they return home for the period rostered off work. Mining shift workers experience poor sleep, yet limited research is available on contributing factors. This study investigated, for the first time, the relationship between the sleep health and sleep hygiene in this population. A survey was disseminated to shift workers in the mining industry, utilising a cross-sectional study design. The Sleep Health Index and Sleep Hygiene Index questionnaires were used …

Automated Abdominal Aortic Calcification Scoring From Vertebral Fracture Assessment Images And Fall-Associated Hospitalisations: The Manitoba Bone Mineral Density Registry, Marc Sim, Abadi K. Gebre, Jack Dalla Via, Siobhan Reid, Mohammad Jafari Jozani, Douglas Kimelman, Barret A. Monchka, Syed Zulqarnain Gilani, Zaid Ilyas, Cassandra Smith, David Suter, John T. Schousboe, Joshua R. Lewis, William D. Leslie

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), a subclinical measure of cardiovascular disease (CVD) that can be assessed on vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) images during osteoporosis screening, is reported to be a falls risk factor. A limitation to incorporating AAC clinically is that its scoring requires trained experts and is time-consuming. We examined if our machine learning (ML) algorithm for AAC (ML-AAC24) is associated with a higher fall-associated hospitalisation risk in the Manitoba Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Registry. A total of 8565 individuals (94.0% female, age 75.7 ± 6.8 years) who had a BMD and VFA image from DXA between February 2010 and …

Gestational Age–Specific Prevalence Of Preeclampsia Among Pregnant Women In Ghana: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Observational Study, Wina Ivy Ofori Boadu, Enoch Odame Anto, Akua Benewaah Asamoah, Ezekiel Ansah, Godfred Yawson Scott, Emmanuel Ekow Korsah, Joseph Frimpong, Valentine Christian Kodzo Tsatsu Tamakloe, Michael Nyantakyi, Agartha Odame Anto, Emmanuel Timmy Donkoh, Kwame Ofori Boadu, Richard Vikpebah Duneeh, Frederick Ayensu, Christian Obirikorang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Preeclampsia is responsible for a significant rate of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Gestational age as a risk factor has a significant impact on fetal outcomes in pregnancies affected by preeclampsia. However, to our knowledge, no study has identified the gestational age–specific prevalence of preeclampsia in Ghana. Thus, this study ascertained the gestational age–specific prevalence of preeclampsia as well as its associated factors. Methods: A hospital-based retrospective observational study was conducted by reviewing data collected from the maternal birth register on 619 pregnant women who delivered at the facility from 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021. Results: Out …

Investigating The Interplay Of Thermal, Lighting, And Acoustics In Intensive Care For Enhanced Patient Well-Being And Clinical Outcomes, Emil E. Jonescu, Edward Litton, Benjamin Farrell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This research explores the interplay among noise levels, thermal conditions, and lighting intensity in an intensive care unit (ICU), focusing on preserving circadian rhythm and promoting nighttime sleep to advance patient-centric care. This investigation assesses lighting levels (Lux), natural versus artificial light ratios, ICU room temperature, and correlations with acoustic data during a field research period and examines the collective impact of patient exposure to sleep linked to delirium and health outcomes, addressing critical gaps in understanding. Findings reveal that noise levels between 60 and 90 dB(A) during patient occupancy exceed sleep disruption thresholds, with daytime averages of 53.6 dB(A) …

Third Party Negotiated Hospital Pricing In Rural And Urban Hospitals Within 12 U.S. States, Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Aaron P. Smith, Jeffrey C. Talbert

Rural & Underserved Health Research Center Publications

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Analysis Of Stress Relief, Life Satisfaction, And Quality Of Life Based On Marriage Status And Gender Among Members Of Society Participating In Exercise, Ji-Hye Yang, Sicheol Jung, Hyejin Yang, Chulhwan Choi, Chul-Ho Bum

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Modern members of society tend to feel stressed in their workplace and at home, but exercising has been shown to effectively reduce stress and increase quality of life and satisfaction. This study aimed to investigate and compare stress relief, life satisfaction, and quality of life based on marriage status and gender among members of society who participate in exercise. We used a questionnaire survey with 311 participants, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, validity and reliability, a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and a post hoc analysis. The study results showed that the single groups demonstrated higher mean …

Revolutionising Indoor Air Quality To Stop Pandemics With Germicidal Ultraviolet (Guv) Technology, P. Jacob Bueno De Mesquita

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

This exclusive interview with Assistant Professor of Public Health and leader of TheHuman Health and Harmony Lab (H3) Jacob Bueno de Mesquita explores the hiddendangers of shared air, the transformative potential of Germicidal Ultraviolet (GUV)technology, and the vision for a future where indoor spaces contribute to healthier, moreresilient communities.

Establishing The Philippine Cancer Center National Cancer Research Agenda 2024-2028: Insights And Future Directions, Frederic Ivan L. Ting, Edward Christopher Dee, Ma Katrina Domenica R. Ting, Abigail R. Tud, Erin Jay G. Feliciano, Erika P. Ong, Carol V. Narra

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

No abstract provided.

Enablers And Barriers To The Use Of Portable Ultrasound Devices For Antenatal Care In Rural Health Centers In The Philippines, Jacob Anthony Batuhan, Reynan Hernandez, Florentina Villanueva, Airen Sigue, Kevyn Yu, Kate Wad-Asen, Beatriz Carandang, Jeremie Bartelheimer

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Objectives

This qualitative study aims to examine the enablers and barriers to portable ultrasound device utilization for antenatal care in rural Philippine health centers, with the goal of improving maternal outcomes and reducing maternal mortality.

Methods

We conducted focus group discussions with 18 healthcare workers (midwives, a nurse, and a radiologic technician) and 20 pregnant women across 5 rural health centers. We used inductive thematic analysis to identify system-related, provider-related, and client-related enablers and barriers.

Results

Enablers included free ultrasound services, hospital policies requiring prenatal scans, provider training, awareness creation, patient interest and acceptance, and confidence in HCWs’ capabilities. Barriers …

Intersection Between Individual, Household, Environmental And System Level Factors In Defining Risk And Resilience For Children In Kenya’S Asal: A Qualitative Study, Esther Chongwo, Barack Aoko, Martha Kaniala, Moses Wesala, Phillis Magoma, Eunice Njoroge, Susan Nyamanya, Joyce Marangu, Anil Khamis, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Introduction: Children growing up in arid and semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) face heightened risks, often resulting in poor developmental outcomes. In Kenya, the arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) exhibit the lowest health and developmental indicators among children. Despite these risks, some children grow up successfully and overcome the challenges. However, there is limited comprehensive data on sources of risks and resilience in these children, particularly research that incorporates community perspectives and indigenous knowledge. Systematic documentation of factors influencing child outcomes is crucial for understanding the overall burden, informing policy and implementing targeted interventions. This study aimed at …

Factors Affecting The Joy Of Life In Old Age: A Scale Development Study, Yalçın Karagöz, Yusuf Karaşi̇n, Mustafa Filiz, Mehmet Ateş

Adultspan Journal

This study aims to introduce a measurement tool into the literature that can reveal the factors affecting the joy of life in older adulthood. Participants included 266 individuals aged 55 and over living in Izmir, Turkey. The process of developing the scale includes the following stages: problem identification, item pool creation, expert opinion, form shaping, pilot application, and finalizing the scale. The exploratory factor analysis revealed that the scale consists of 6 different dimensions, and the variance explained by these dimensions was found to be 65.184%. The acceptable values for the scale's fit indicators are as follows: χ²/df0.90, IFI > 0.90, …

Drone Medical Package Delivery For Improved Transportation And Better Patient Outcomes Final Implementation Report, Amro El-Adle, Madeline Alden, Yin-Hsuen Chen, Melissa Davidson

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

The Drone Medical Package Delivery for Improved Transportation and Better Patient Outcomes planning and prototyping grant involves five partners, including Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission (A-NPDC), Riverside Health System, Old Dominion University (ODU), Virginia Institute for Spaceflight & Autonomy (VISA), Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), and DroneUp. The partners worked together to address access, safety, reliability and sustainability for medical and emergency response package delivery via drone, specifically, where the use of aerial drones could lead to better patient outcomes and improved safety and emergency response.

The goal of the project was to develop an operational prototype that woul evolve into …

Exploring The Impact: Eating Disorder Treatment And Mortality In The United States, Brittany Tolbert

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study explores adolescent eating disorder trends in the United States between 1999-2013, identifies national eating disorder mortality trends, and analyzes data for in-patient adolescent hospital admissions. Additionally, this study uses public-facing data for residential eating disorder treatment centers to explore issues related to insurance coverage, gender inclusivity, and evidence-informed treatment practices. The findings will highlight gaps in data collection and policy, support advocacy, and contribute to the research into eating disorder prevalence, prevention, treatment outcomes, and economic impact, leading to greater visibility to promote change.

Multisociety Guidance For Infection Prevention And Control In Nursing Homes, Lona Mody, Sonali D. Advani, Muhammad Salman Ashraf, Allison H. Bartlett, Suzanne F. Bradley, Deborah P. Burdsall, Jennifer A. Hanrahan, Susan S. Huang, Robert L.P. Jump, Lindsay Nicolle, Mary-Claire Roghmann, Patricia Stone, Rekha K. Murthy

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

This multisociety guidance was endorsed by SHEA, APIC, IDSA, PALTmed, and AGS. It provides recommendations for infection prevention and control (IPC) in the context of the complexity of nursing home care in the United States: increased medical acuity of residents, the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms, and the threat of emerging pathogens. Recommendations and implementation suggestions address IPC leadership, staffing, and resources, healthcare personnel and residents‘ adherence to precautions and effective hand hygiene, outbreak preparedness, training, occupational health, cleaning and disinfection in the care environment, and the involvement of IPC in the facility. The guidance also addresses the challenges of maintaining …

Mental Health Trends Among African American High School Students, Alexis Heard

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescent mental health is a major public health issue in the U.S., with African American high school students facing a rapidly worsening crisis. While all youth show increasing rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality, African American adolescents are at greater risk due to systemic racism, socioeconomic inequality, community violence, and limited access to culturally responsive care. Few national studies have examined mental health trends among this group. This study (1) examines 2011–2021 trends in persistent sadness/hopelessness, suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempts among African American high school students; (2) explores gender differences; and (3) compares these patterns to national …

Perinatal Policy Disparities And Their Impact On Maternal, Paternal, And Child Health, D'Ashanae Y. Pippens

Theses and Dissertations

This systematic review synthesized evidence on perinatal policy framework to evaluate their public health significance and impact on family outcomes. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, and corporate data from 2015-2025 were reviewed across national, state, and global levels. The analysis revealed seven thematic domains, (1) policy design and duration, (2) wage replacement, (3) insurance continuity, (4) workplace breastfeeding accommodations, (5) parental leave, (6) equity in access, and (7) policy enforcement. Evidence shows that integrated and inclusive policies particularly those in Sweden, Germany, and progressive U.S. states (NY and CA), yield substantial …

Small Town Voices And Stories: Rural Older Populations And Health Narratives, Wyatt K. Zumbahlen

Masters Theses

Stories play a vital role in our humanity; they help us understand the world around us. As we age, our experiences, along with those of the people around us, shape our perceptions of health and influence our healthcare choices. For older adults, narratives become an essential resource in making healthcare decisions. In rural communities like Coles County, Illinois, these stories are especially important for older adults who are navigating the limited care and services available in the area. This reliance on narratives impacts their willingness to seek care, highlighting the need to recognize the power of stories in empowering older …

Spontaneous Pneumothorax In Adolescents: Is Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy Mandatory?, Soufiane Essamoud, Mohamed Lahlou, Anne Olland, Francois Lefebvre, Anne Lehn, Isabelle Chevalier, Raphael Moog, Pierre-Emmanuelle Falcoz, Isabelle Talon, Hicham Zerhouni

Health Sciences

Background: Treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax involves conservative treatment or surgery. Our goal was to evaluate the need for surgical approach using Video- Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) for patients presenting spontaneous pneumothorax. Methods: Patients aged between 14 and 20 years old treated for spontaneous pneumothorax were included into an observational retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups: Those with a success of conservative treatment at the initial presentation (Group A), and those where VATS was performed at initial presentation after failure of conservative treatment (Group B). Results: 134 patients were included with a median of 6.5 years follow-up. 102 (76,1%) …

Burnout At University: Cross-Sectional Study Among Dental Students, Manal Elhijazi, Hajar Nafia, Ihsane Benyahya

Health Sciences

Context: The university constitutes a demanding and competitive learning environment which can impact the well-being of students. The objective of this survey is to assess the burnout of students at the faculty of dentistry.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via an anonymous questionnaire with 3 sections: socio-demographic data, lifestyle and habit, and burnout through the Maslach burnout inventory-student survey (MBI-SS) . Continuous variables were presented as means and standard deviations,categorical variables as numbers and percentages. The variables were tested in univariate analysis to assess predictive factors related to burnout using the Khi-2 test. The significance level was …

Undergraduate Nursing Students' Perceptions Of A Screen-Based Virtual Simulation And Self-Debriefing: A Qualitative Study., Fatima Zahra Mahou, Guillaume Decormeille, Asmae Khattabi

Health Sciences

The integration of virtual simulation and self-debriefing in nursing education offers promising approaches for enhancing students' competency in medication administration and dosage calculation. This study aims to explore undergraduate nursing students' perceptions and experiences with virtual simulation and self-debriefing, building on findings from a previously published RCT that demonstrated improved learning outcomes through these approaches. In the first phase (self-debriefing), 153 students answered five open-ended questions, followed by a focus group with six students in the second phase.The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis by two independent coders to ensure consistency and credibility. The study highlights the benefits of …

Addressing The Rural Firearm Suicide Crisis: The Impact Of Culture, Mental Health, And Approaching Change, Sasha Ghofrani, Erik E. Langenau

PCOM Capstone Projects

Background. Firearm suicide rates are a growing public health concern, disproportionately impacting rural U.S. communities. This literature review explores risk factors contributing to this crisis.

Methods. This narrative literature review synthesizes research on the primary risk factors for firearm suicide in rural U.S. communities.

Key Findings. Key findings identify four central challenges: (1) a deeply rooted firearm culture based on identity and heritage in rural communities, which often resists traditional safety messaging; (2) prevalent unsafe firearm storage practices that increase the risk of firearm suicide; (3) high rates of social isolation, which are linked to both unsafe …

Cause Of Death? -- It's Probably Not What's Reported On The Death Certificate, Lauren R. Roth

Lewis & Clark Law Review

In the age of big data, this country has a data problem—inaccurate and incomplete information in death certificates. The problem has long been hidden by the numbers reported—as have the people whose deaths go uncounted, but the COVID-19 pandemic unveiled the scope of the issue. Since the beginning of the pandemic, “excess deaths” (i.e., any deaths above the number predicted by existing mortality models) have increased significantly. Most of these excess deaths are likely attributable to COVID-19 because the decedent was never tested for COVID-19 or it was one of multiple factors contributing to their death. Other deaths are uncounted …

Applied Research Division Research At A Glance: 2025, Shellie R. Hubbard Ma

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

The Institute of Child Nutrition Applied Research Division (ICN ARD) conducts applied research to address operational issues affecting child nutrition programs and support continuous program improvement. During the 2024–2025 reporting year, the division completed research focused on workforce development, training needs, culinary competencies, school food trends, and operational challenges in child nutrition settings.

Major projects included studies examining training needs and delivery preferences of child nutrition professionals, challenges affecting Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operations, and the development of a Competencies, Knowledge, and Skills (CKS) resource for chefs working in school nutrition programs. Findings informed the creation of …