Public Health Commons^™

Optimizing Discharge Education For Patients With Heart Failure, Connie-Rose Pangan

Nursing | Senior Theses

Noncompliance can be a result of a lack of comprehension of discharge instructions and a lack of concise, effective educational resources. Due to this deficit, patients with heart failure are less likely to comply with their discharge protocol and are therefore more likely to be readmitted to the hospital. The aim of the study is to consolidate a teaching method that accommodates one's existing educational barriers, implement follow-up to increase knowledge retention and improve self care, and prevent readmission among HF patients. Two hundred hospitalized, English-speaking patients with heart failure above 65 years old across 20 US Hospitals will be …

Nursing Education On Sleep Health And Its Impact On Insulin Resistance In Adolescents, Salamasina Tufa

Nursing | Senior Theses

Modern-day adolescents are increasingly at risk for poor sleep quality due to rapid physical and physiological changes and stressors from technology and social media. Recent research suggests poor sleep affects endocrine function and contributes to insulin resistance (IR), a precursor to Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). This proposed quasi-experimental study will examine if a nurse-led sleep education program can improve sleep quality and decrease the incidence of IR in adolescents with poor sleep. A total of 100 participants aged 12-18 across Berkley, California who score ≥ 5 on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) will be randomly assigned to either …

Delayed And Misdiagnosed Endometriosis, Teresa Doyle

Nursing | Senior Theses

Aim: This research investigates whether targeted education can improve the early diagnosis of endometriosis, a chronic condition affecting around 10% of women of reproductive age. Unfortunately, endometriosis is often misdiagnosed, delaying treatment, prolonging discomfort, and lowering quality of life. Healthcare practitioners' knowledge gap is addressed by this study, which examines whether organized training promotes awareness and diagnostic accuracy. This research proposal evaluates an educational intervention developed to improve gynecological experts' knowledge and diagnostic skills. The main research issue is whether the intervention reduces misdiagnosis and improves patient outcomes. A quasi-experimental design will examine participants' knowledge and diagnosis accuracy before and …

Beyond Grit: Structural Determinants Of Resilience Among College Women With Children In The U.S., Juliana Kahrs

Dissertations of Practice

This critical quantitative analysis explores how social determinants of health, including basic needs security, caregiving and work responsibilities, healthcare access, discrimination experiences, and institutional support predict resilience among U.S. college women with dependents. Using data from the Spring 2021 ACHA-NCHA III survey (n = 4,417), this study integrated the Health Equity Framework with the Social Ecological Theory of Resilience to examine multilevel influences on resilience. Descriptive analyses highlighted disproportionate burdens among single, first-generation, and racially minoritized groups. Bivariate chi-square tests revealed significant associations between resilience and sense of belonging, basic needs security, employment, healthcare utilization, and self-assessed overall health. Multinomial …

Summary Of: Ai Diabetic Retinopathy Screening In A Primary Care Setting In Rural Maine, Rachel Heuer Md, Emma Daybranch Mph, Anastasia Tsomides Do, Jessica F. Dibiase Mph, Neil Korsen Md, Brian Nolan Md

Northern New England Clinical & Translational Research

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness globally. Early diagnosis and treatment reduce the risk of vision loss by 98%.

Study found @ "AI Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in a Primary Care Setting in Rural M" by Rachel Heuer, Emma DayBranch et al.

Infant Health Equity In Oklahoma: A Mixed-Methods Exploration Of Personal, Organizational, Environmental, And Policy Factors Contributing To Black Infant Mortality, Ayesha M. Lampkins

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Black women experience higher rates of adverse birth outcomes, including infant mortality. There is a gap in the literature on multilevel strategies to achieve infant health equity and engage Black women. This study is unique in that no others have looked at the views of Oklahoma Black women to inform and address infant health equity strategies and utilize these views to provide context to existing infant mortality data. The study research questions are: 1) What views on infant health equity and infant mortality are held by Black women in Oklahoma? 2) What differences exist between Black and White mothers in …

Investigating The Extent To Which Diet-Induced Obesity Alters Gene Expression In Hematopoietic Stem And Progenitor Cells Following Influenza Immunization In Mice, Chaitanya Lahari Chowdary Pathipati

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Vaccines are a vital tool in preventing diseases, but their effectiveness varies depending on factors like diet and body weight. Obese individuals often experience reduced vaccine protection, as seen with influenza vaccines, where they have twice the risk of getting the flu compared to healthy-weight individuals after vaccination. This study aims to understand why obesity weakens vaccine effectiveness, focusing on the role of blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow, known as hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). These cells are crucial for producing immune cells that defend the body against infections. Previous research has shown that diet-induced obesity alters …

App Assisted Depression Self-Management In Integrated Primary Care: A Pilot Study Exploring Patient And Provider Experiences, David J. Johnson, Margaret R. Emerson, Danae Dinkel, Robbin Thomas, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway, Maria S. Mickles, Carli Culjat

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

The integrated primary care (IPC) setting is currently the de facto institution for accessing mental healthcare among underserved populations. However, many barriers exist for these populations when seeking regular and adequate mental healthcare, including provider availability and transportation challenges. This study piloted the incorporation of mindLAMP, a mHealth app, into IPC treatment to offer a low-resource intervention designed to improve and expand access to mental healthcare for underserved patients between face-to-face visits. This study gathered data from a sample of both behavioral health providers and patients (N = 6) in IPC settings to pilot the use of the mindLAMP app …

Laryngeal Hypersensitivity From The Perspective Of Pain Science: An Integrative Review Of Empirical Studies On Associated Factors And Processes, William Saint-Jules, Hugo Massé-Alarie, Nicole Y. K. Li-Jessen, Maude Desjardins

Revues de littérature, synthèses de connaissances

Objective

Laryngeal hypersensitivity (LHS) is a state of heightened sensorimotor response to stimuli in the upper airway. Although its clinical picture is becoming progressively clearer with recent research progress, specificities about its associated factors and processes remain to be clarified. The aim of this integrative review was to synthesize published empirical data from human studies on LHS, focusing on related factors and pathophysiology.

Study Design and Data Sources

Integrative review of the literature; Pubmed, EMBASE, and Web of Science.

Methods

Keywords associated with the following three main concepts were used to query databases: (1) manifestations potentially associated with an irritable …

Impacts Of Ramadan Fasting During Pregnancy On Pregnancy And Birth Outcomes: An Umbrella Review, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Md Estiar Rahman, May Salama, Ali H. Ziyab, Wilfried Karmaus

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background

Despite a large number of primary research studies, and systematic and narrative reviews, there is no consensus on the impact of fasting during Ramadan while pregnant on pregnancy and birth outcomes. Currently, there is no evidence-based guideline for Muslim women regarding Ramadan fasting during pregnancy and clinicians cannot provide firm recommendations.

Objectives

To review the current evidence regarding the impact of Ramadan fasting during pregnancy on pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Search Strategy

We conducted an umbrella review of all systematic and narrative reviews examining the impacts of fasting during Ramadan while pregnant on pregnancy and birth outcomes by searching …

Politics In Public Health: Growing Partisan Divides In Covid-19 Vaccine Attitudes And Uptake Post-2021 Presidential Inauguration, Hongbin Fan, Zhongliang Zhou, Guanping Liu, Chi Shen, Qi Zhang

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objectives: To investigate whether the 2021 U.S. presidential inauguration contributed to a widening of partisan divides in COVID-19 vaccine attitudes and uptake. Methods: We leverage the presidential inauguration as a natural experiment and analyze data from the Household Pulse Survey and CDC vaccination records. Using a difference-in-differences framework with continuous treatment, we examine how the transition differentially affected state-level vaccine refusal rates and county-level vaccination rates, based on varying levels of partisanship as measured by the Trump-Biden vote gap. Results: Following Biden's inauguration, vaccine refusal declined more in pro-Biden states. Distrust in government and vaccines accounted for approximately 80% of …

Machine Learning Models For Pancreatic Cancer Survival Prediction: A Multi-Model Analysis Across Stages And Treatments Using The Surveillance, Epidemiology, And End Results (Seer) Database, Aditya Chakraborty, Mohan D. Pant

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Pancreatic cancer is among the most lethal malignancies, with poor prognosis and limited survival despite treatment advances. Accurate survival modeling is critical for prognostication and clinical decision-making. This study had three primary aims: (1) to determine the best-fitting survival distribution among patients diagnosed and deceased from pancreatic cancer across stages and treatment types; (2) to construct and compare predictive risk classification models; and (3) to evaluate survival probabilities using parametric, semi-parametric, non-parametric, machine learning, and deep learning methods for Stage IV patients receiving both chemotherapy and radiation. Methods: Using data from the SEER database, parametric models (Generalized Extreme Value, …

Enhancing Wellbeing Through Caregiver Support: Improving Quality Of Life For Individuals With Special Needs And Complex Medical Diagnoses In Nicaragua, Jenna K. Devchand

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Individuals with disabilities living all over the world are constantly faced with additional barriers. In low-income countries, such as Nicaragua, there is often a gap in access to resources and education, for both individuals living with disabilities and their caregivers. Access is essential to provide high quality care to meet unique needs. This occupational therapy doctoral capstone project was created to support individuals providing care to children with special needs and complex medical diagnoses in Nicaragua by providing community-based education and sustainable resources to caregivers to enhance wellbeing in daily life. The deliverable was presented in country in Nicaragua to …

An Evaluation Of The Association Between Female Reproductive Health Policy And Children's Health Outcomes, Kira Markowski, Rachel Bobko

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: As policy pertaining to female reproductive health and education continues to be a central issue concerning Americans and a divisive focus of political campaigns, it is important to fully understand the ramifications of female reproductive health legislation not only on women’s health outcomes but also the health outcomes of children and adolescents.
Objective: We set out to identify how legislation and policy related to female reproductive health and education impacts the health and well-being of children and adolescents. By evaluating this relationship, we aim to show whether variations in policy correlate with variations in a child’s well-being as lawmakers …

Awake And Affected: Cultural And Socioeconomic Impacts On Sleep Insufficiency In Modern-Day Ohio, Nehal Mittal, Marina Shenouda

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Previous literature explores factors such as urban environments, screen use and stress negatively impact sleep quality in American adults. However, there is a lack of demographic focus on non-white, low-income populations specifically related to sleep. There is a growing need for targeted interventions to address increasingly prevalent disparities.
Objective: Our study aims to look deeper into race, age, and socioeconomic status and other demographic factors that may affect sleep health.
Results: Our analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between insufficient sleep and selfreported poor or fair health (r = .728) and a moderate positive correlation with unemployment (r = …

Prevention Of Substance Related Deaths Through Mental Health Counseling, Lindsey Tout, Camille Zonfa

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Substance abuse, particularly alcohol and drug use, remains a critical public safety issue in Ohio. Those suffering with abuse disorders are likely to often have accompanying mental health disorders, however, there lies a significant gap in treatment.
Objective: This study examines trends in alcohol-related driving deaths, drug overdose deaths, excessive drinking, and mental health provider availability from 2016 to 2023 in rural and urban counties of Ohio.
Methods: Data collected from the public source, County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, was analyzed using statistical methods to assess changes between 2016 to 2023 for the 88 counties of Ohio. Urban versus …

Factors Driving Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations In Ohio And Surrounding States, Ann Walter, Andy Russell

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of Alcohol, Mental Health, And Suicide, Motassem Bayyoud, Megan Galluch

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Suicide rates in Montana, Iowa, Ohio, and New Jersey vary strongly and encompass the wide range seen across all fifty states in America. Previous research has told us that there is a significant relationship between Alcohol Use Disorder and the ideation, attempt, and completion of suicide. Additionally, most people who are victims of suicide suffer from mental disorders. People use alcohol to cope with mental health and alcohol leads to deteriorating and adverse outcomes in a person’s life. To attempt to better understand the relationship between these variables and why suicide rates differ so widely, an analysis of binge drinking, …

Examining Low Mammogram Rates In Native American Populations In Arizona And New Mexico, Mason Berges, Ayesha Ahmad

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Introduction: Despite improvements in technology over the last several decades, breast cancer incidence and mortality rates have remained steady among the Native American population. This is in direct contrast to the general United States population which has seen substantial decreases in these incidence and mortality rates. A key factor in eliminating breast cancer and saving lives is undergoing mammogram screenings. While mammogram screenings are of crucial importance, many Native American women lack equitable access to healthcare resources and as a result face unnecessary health challenges. Several social determinants of health could be playing a key role in these mammogram screening …

Impact Of Abortion Restrictions On Childhood Health Outcomes, Rico Carter, Griffin Suppa

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Abortion has been a topic for debate in the U.S. for decades. With the Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, many pro-abortion advocates fear for the looming effects this policy change will have on healthcare. In this study we aim to study how abortion access or lack thereof influences childhood healthcare outcomes. Past research has shown a negative impact of abortion restrictions on infant survival, future socioeconomic success, and the U.S. foster care system. Using data collected from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps and three abortion restriction levels created from Guttmacher, we found that states with restrictions had …

Food Insecurity Rates And Its Related Factors In The State Of Ohio, Sophia Danchine, Maia Sethi

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Food insecurity is an ongoing issue across Ohio counties, influenced by socioeconomic factors, geographical location, and age and ethnic demographics. This study explores food insecurity rates from 2016 to 2023, comparing urban and rural counties, various social determinants of health, such as income, education, and age, and exploring correlations with racial and ethnic demographics. Using data from the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps database, statistical analyses revealed key findings that food insecurity was not significantly different when comparing rural versus urban counties in Ohio. The most significant predictor to food insecurity in 2023 was median household income, followed by percent …

Social And Structural Determinants Of Mammography Screening Rates Among Female Medicare Beneficiaries: A Retrospective Analysis, Stephen Fuglsang, Rakhsha Khatri

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Introduction: Despite Medicare fully covering annual mammogram costs, less than one half of female Ohio residents aged 65-74 sought yearly mammograms. As such, our analyses explore which social and structural determinants of health predict the likelihood that a woman aged 65-74 on Medicare will receive an annual mammogram.
Methods: This retrospective analysis utilized data from the County Health Rankings database, focusing on female Medicare enrollees aged 65-74. Mammography screening rates were compared across counties within Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri. Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were employed to examine relationships between English non-proficiency, high school graduation rates, residential segregation, primary care …

Income, Education, And Family Structure: Drivers Of Teen Pregnancy In Rural And Urban Ohio, Adam Klauck, Maggie Stiefel, Catherine Wilson

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Teen birth rates in Ohio have been declining; however, due to the potential adverse ramifications of any teen birth, for either the mother or the child, understanding the strongest predictors of teen birth rates in Ohio will allow physicians to preventatively care for their young female population. Our objective was to identify some qualitative factors that best indicate the environment in which a teenage pregnancy is most likely to occur, giving special attention to the difference between rural and urban environments. Relevant data was obtained from County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. This study used qualitative methods and SPSS to analyze …

The Effect Of Socioeconomic Factors On Childhood Mortality, Sathvika Madisetty, Benjamin Curl

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: This study investigates the impact of socioeconomic factors specifically childhood poverty, uninsurance, and severe housing problems on childhood mortality rates in Ohio in 2016 and 2023.
Methods: The study analyzes county-level data from Ohio in 2016 and 2023, focusing on childhood mortality, childhood poverty, uninsurance, and severe housing problems using data from County Health Rankings and Roadmaps1. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests, Spearman correlations, and linear regression, were performed to examine associations and predictive relationships.
Results: Childhood poverty was found to have a moderate, statistically significant correlation with childhood mortality in Ohio for 2023, emerging as the strongest predictor …

Exploring The Socioeconomic Drivers Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Prevalence And Their Implications For Treatment In The Midwest, Kendall Locascio, Anirudha Koppaka

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a leading chronic disease globally with its prevalence steadily rising and significantly impacting public health systems. Previous research has indicated correlations between resource scarcity, low income, and limited education completion and T2DM prevalence. However, the degree of influence of these factors on incidence and progression remains unclear. This study aims to identify the most significant socioeconomic determinants of T2DM prevalence and progression in the Midwest to aid healthcare providers in creating maximally effective T2DM treatment plans. Methods include using data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) for Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. We …

From Judgment To Support: Advocating For Mothers Of Children With Behavioral Disorders, Alisha Riggins, Jessica Guerrette, Nazish Masud, Tobi Oloyede, Sarah Sejoro, Joanne Chopak-Foss, Logan Cowan

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Horizontal Gene Transfer In Antibiotic Resistance Amidst Prevalent Community And Healthcare-Associated Mrsa Rates, Gabrielle Nascimento

Honors College Theses

In recent decades, cases of community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) and healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) have been on the rise. The ability of antibiotic resistance to transfer between microorganisms greatly expands its threat to the effective treatment and containment of bacterial infections. The mecA gene is found on a mobile cassette within the Staphylococcal cell and encodes for PBP2a, an alternate version of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) with less binding affinity for β-lactam antibiotics, increasing resistance to the effects of antibiotics. The goal of this research is to investigate the horizontal transfer of the mecA gene between various Staphylococcus species as well as to …

The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Factors And Low Birth Rates In Ohio, Ryan Gora, Hannah Amin

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: The incidence of low birth weight (LBW) has not substantially fallen over time despite advances in medical interventions. LBW has been linked to several chronic diseases in adulthood including type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), making it a particularly salient public health issue.
Objective: To examine socioeconomic factors and diseases associated with LBW in Ohio between 2016-2022.
Methods: Using data from County Health Rankings, we identified socioeconomic factors predictive of LBW in Ohio between 2016-2022. We also examined the relationship between LBW and incidence of T2DM as well as food insecurity (FI). In addition, we investigated how …

Food And Mood, Angelina Gentilin, Patrick Tawil

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Depression and mental illnesses are on the rise in the United States alongside other chronic illnesses like obesity. Preliminary research indicates that diets of individuals and obesity can have profound roles in mental health status. Alongside the consummatory behavior of eating, drinking alcohol is associated with mental illnesses like depression and could potentially play a role in mental health and poor diet. The authors analyzed the public health county data in Ohio of adults between the years of 2016 and 2022 to investigate any differences in the population’s health rates. This study found that diet plays an influencing role in …

Texans In Transition: Exploring Socioeconomic Effects On Health From 2016 To 2023, Dylan Timperman, Nowshin Islam, Akshey Suresh

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Although it has been shown that low socioeconomic status (SES) negatively impacts many health outcomes, very little is known about this relationship in the second largest U.S. state, Texas. Over the past decade, Texas has experienced crises such as Hurricane Harvey, the COVID 19 pandemic, and other environmental disasters that have worsened disparities in health and financial stability. With the highest uninsured rate in the nation and a rapidly growing Hispanic population, understanding financial health disparities is important in influencing public policy and resource allocation.
Objective: By analyzing The University of Wisconsin’s Public Health Institute County Health Rankings & …