Public Health Commons^™

Specialist Perspectives On West Virginia Medicaid Coverage Requirements For Semaglutide: A Qualitative Study Of Perceived Barriers In A Rural State, Yongjia Deng, Katherine Shepherd, Kanith Farah, Jenna Sizemore, Treah Haggerty, Laura Davisson

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Introduction

The WV Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board approved a policy limiting prescriptions of Wegovy for cardiovascular risk reduction to cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and neurologists or those in consultation with them. This qualitative study explored specialists’ perspectives on the policy and its perceived implications for patient access to care and clinical practice in rural West Virginia.

Methods

To assess the perceived impact of this policy, we conducted semi-structured interviews with eight WV-based neurologists, cardiologists, and vascular surgeons between September 2024 and June 2025, while the original prescribing restrictions were in effect. Interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify …

The Role Of Local Protein Sources In Nutritious And Balanced Complementary Feeding For The Prevention Of Stunting In Infants Aged 6-24 Months, Kysara Aureldy Davonso Matualage, Leonardo Tedjaprasadja, Chy'as Diuranil Astrid Permataputri

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Stunting remains a major public health problem in Indonesia, with prevalence rates still above national targets. The complementary feeding period (6–24 months) is a critical window for prevention, during which inadequate protein intake significantly contributes to impaired linear growth. Local animal protein sources offer an accessible and sustainable strategy to improve dietary quality. This study aims to review scientific evidence on the role of local animal protein sources in nutritionally balanced complementary feeding for the prevention of stunting in Indonesian infants aged 6–24 months. A literature review was conducted by systematically searching scientific databases for studies published between 2020 and …

Development And Nutritional Evaluation Of Plantain–Soy Composite Flour Blends As Complementary Foods For The Management Of Protein-Energy Malnutrition, Jelili A. Quadri Dr., Azeesat O. Adebiyi-Olabode Dr, Anifat B. Saka Mrs., Debbie M. Esekhade Miss

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) continues to be a critical problem in public health, especially in developing nations where sources of affordable nutrient-dense foods are unavailable. Plantain is one of the staple foods rich in carbohydrates but deficient in protein, while soybeans are protein-rich legumes. A blend of these local foods in composite flour will increase the nutritional value of plantain-based foods without compromising their sensory properties. The objective of this study was to formulate plantain-soy composite flour blends at various substitution rates and determine their composition and sensory characteristics. Unripe plantain and soybean were milled into flour and mixed in …

Factors Associated With The Incidence Of Hypertension In Young Adults (20–24 Years) In Central Kalimantan Province (Analysis Of Ski 2023 Data), Indira Paramesti, Ratu Ayu Dewi Sartika, Diah Mulyawati Utari, Kusharisupeni Joko Suyono

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Hypertension has been identified as a major public health problem leading to premature death and contributing to the development of various non-communicable diseases. In recent years, it has occurred not only among older populations but also among young adults. Hypertension at a young age can result in earlier organ damage, leading to a more rapid decline in quality of life and productivity. This study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with the incidence of hypertension among young adults aged 20–24 years in Central Kalimantan Province in 2023. A cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing secondary data from the 2023 Indonesian …

A Comparison Of Iron-Folic Acid Supplement Consumption Among Female Undergraduate Students In Health And Non-Health Majors At The University Of Indonesia In 2026, Naila Afifah, Ratu Ayu Dewi Sartika, Triyanti Triyanti, Deasy Martini

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Iron-Folic Acid Tablets (IFAT) are recommended to prevent anemia among adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. However, IFAT consumption remains a concern among female college students, with previous research reporting differences in non-adherence between female health and non-health students at the University of Jember. This study aimed to analyze IFAT consumption behavior and its associations with residential status, attitudes, mother’s education, IFAT side effects, IFAT accessibility, media, family support, peer support, and healthcare provider support among female undergraduate students in health and non-health majors at the University of Indonesia in 2026. A cross-sectional study with purposive sampling was conducted …

Association Of Chrononutrition Behaviors And Other Factors With Nutritional Status Among Dormitory Students Of Universitas Indonesia In 2026, Hana Maulani Putra, Ratu Ayu Dewi Sartika, Trini Sudiarti, Fathimah Sulistyowati Sigit

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Overweight and obesity remain major public health concerns in Indonesia and may be influenced by various factors, including chrononutrition behaviors related to meal timing and eating frequency, snacking habits, physical activity, sleep patterns, stress levels, ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption, allowance, and sex. Students living in dormitories may experience lifestyle changes associated with greater independence, which can affect their nutritional status. This study aimed to analyze the association between chrononutrition behaviors and other factors with the nutritional status of dormitory students at Universitas Indonesia in 2026. This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2026. Participants were recruited using purposive …

Dominant Factors Associated With The Risk Of Chronic Energy Deficiency (Ced) Among Pregnant Women In East Nusa Tenggara Province (Analysis Ski Data 2023), Keisa Dwinta Mailova, Triyanti Triyanti, Tria Astika Endah Permatasari

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) is a long-term condition of energy deficiency resulting from inadequate nutrient intake. CED in pregnant women has negative effects on both maternal and fetal health. East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province is one of the regions with the highest prevalence of CED among pregnant women in Indonesia, with national data from 2023 showing a prevalence rate of 28%. This study aims to identify the dominant factors associated with the risk of CED in pregnant women in NTT. The study design is cross-sectional, utilizing secondary data from the 2023 Indonesia Health Survey (SKI), involving a sample of 215 …

Millets As A Preventive Dietary Intervention For India’S Nutrition Transition: A Narrative Review Of Glycaemic And Micronutrient Evidence, Kundan Kaushal, Manisha Upadhyay, Shambhu Nath Dubey, Indrajeet Kumar Jha

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

India’s nutrition profile reflects a nutrition transition rather than a single narrative: a rapidly escalating burden of diet-related non-communicable disease, including an estimated 101 million people with diabetes, coexists with a severe and worsening burden of micronutrient deficiency, with anaemia affecting 57% of women and 67.1% of children. This narrative review examines millets, small-seeded cereals historically marginalised in Indian diets in favour of rice and wheat, as a preventive dietary intervention with plausible relevance to both ends of this transition. Evidence was drawn from peer-reviewed systematic reviews and meta-analyses, national survey data and documented delivery interventions, identified through searches of …

Foundation Models In Healthcare: Pre-Training, Alignment, And Clinical Applications, Arvind Pillai

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Foundation models offer an impactful paradigm for healthcare by learning generalizable representations from vast amounts of unlabeled data that can efficiently adapt to a wide range of clinical tasks. This thesis presents five studies organized around three pillars crucial to advance foundation models in healthcare. Pillar I: Pre-training: Chapter I introduces PaPaGei, an open foundation model designed for photoplethysmography (PPG) signals. PaPaGei is pre-trained on large-scale continuous optical data using a morphology-aware self-supervised objective, outperforming general time-series models across diverse clinical tasks while remaining parameter-efficient and robust across skin tones. Pillar II: Alignment: To bridge continuous sensor data and language …

Prescribing In The Post-Black Box Era: Navigating Fda-Approved And Compounded Hormones For Menopause, Nicole Bray

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

This narrative review compares the safety, efficacy, and clinical utility of FDA-approved

versus compounded bioidentical hormone replacement therapies for women in

menopause. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed for

studies published between 2016 and 2026, with search terms including “bioidentical

hormone replacement therapy,” “compounded hormone replacement therapy,”

“menopause,” “menopausal,” “vasomotor,” “estradiol,” “progesterone,” and

“testosterone,” alongside an analysis of major medical societies' guidelines and leading

menopause telehealth platforms. The findings demonstrate that FDA-approved

bioidentical hormone therapies offer superior pharmacokinetic consistency, rigorous

regulatory oversight, and robust clinical evidence compared to compounded

alternatives, which lack standardized testing and regulatory oversight for …

Juvenile Delinquency In Alaska, 2019 And 2023, Gabriel Garcia

AJiC Fact Sheets

This fact sheet examines juvenile delinquency in Alaska, documenting changes in substance use and weapon-carrying among high school students and identifying associated risk and protective factors using weighted data from the 2019 and 2023 Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS).

Use Of The Well-Star Model And Well-Star Graphic In Healthcare, Fidan Korkut-Owen, Zubeyde Akpakir, Dean W. Owen

Journal of Wellness

No abstract provided.

Youth Experience Of Violence In Alaska, 2019 And 2023, Gabriel Garcia

AJiC Fact Sheets

This fact sheet examines youth experiences of dating violence and sexual violence in Alaska, identifying patterns and factors associated with victimization among high school students. Using weighted data from the 2019 and 2023 Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), it compares the prevalence of physical dating violence, sexual dating violence, sexual violence by anyone, and forced sexual intercourse.

The Whole Patient: What Fascia Reveals About Pain, Adaptation, And The Case For Treating Together, Kelly Davis Pt, Dpt, Faaompt, Mt

New Orleans Dental Association News

The final piece in this series looks at fascia and the autonomic nervous system — the connective tissue and nerve pathways linking the jaw, neck, and airway into one continuous system — and why both matter to dentistry. Dr. Davis draws on current fascia and pain science research, including work from the 2025 International Fascia Research Congress in New Orleans, to explain how a misaligned bite can travel through this tissue and surface as headaches, how tongue posture and breathwork affect jaw stability, and why complex, chronic cases so often need more than one discipline to make headway. Told partly …

Did Statewide School Smoking Bans Reduce Smoking Rates?, Rachana Bhatt, Peter Hinrichs

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Key Drivers Of Revisit Intention In Dental And Oral Teaching Hospital, Mega Denada Aldila, Wahyu Sulistiadi

Jurnal ARSI : Administrasi Rumah Sakit Indonesia

Digital transformation in dental and oral teaching hospitals demands strategies that not only ensure clinical quality but also sustain patient loyalty. This study examines the effects of digital storytelling and service quality on outpatient revisit intention at the Dental and Oral Hospital of Universitas Jenderal Soedirman (RSGMP Unsoed), with brand image and patient satisfaction as mediating variables. A quantitative cross-sectional design was applied to 115 outpatients aged ≥18 years who had completed one full episode of dental treatment. After exposure to a standardized digital storytelling video about RSGMP Unsoed, respondents completed a structured Likert-scale questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Partial …

Kepuasan Pasien Terhadap Pelayanan Di Rumah Sakit Pemerintah Dan Rumah Sakit Swasta: Tinjauan Literatur, Bahar Syah, Mardiati Nadjib

Jurnal ARSI : Administrasi Rumah Sakit Indonesia

Patient satisfaction is an important indicator for assessing the quality and performance of hospital services as it reflects patients’ experiences through the healthcare delivery process; this study explore how patient satisfaction toward hospital services in public and private hospitals by analyzing 23 selected scientific articles published between 2015 and 2024 and gathered from ProQuest, Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases from an initial total of 176 articles founded based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the findings indicate that service quality has a significant impact toward patient satisfaction in both types of hospitals, with private hospitals generally demonstrating higher satisfaction levels …

Evaluasi Penerapan Rekam Medis Elektronik Terhadap Kinerja Perawat Di Unit Rawat Inap Rs Grha Permata Ibu Kota Depok Tahun 2025, Ratna Dian Andriani, Dicky Yulius Pangkey, Ahdun Trigono

Jurnal ARSI : Administrasi Rumah Sakit Indonesia

Electronic Medical Records (EMR) adoption aims to improve documentation efficiency and nurses’ performance; however, system instability and limited continuous training remain obstacles. This study examined the effects of EMR features and functionality, technical support and training, and users’ perceptions and attitudes on nurses’ performance at Grha Permata Ibu Hospital. This study employed an analytic observational design with a cross-sectional approach, using a quantitative survey conducted among 74 inpatient nurses through a Likert-scale questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, Spearman correlations, and multiple linear regression were employed. Results indicate that features and functionality (X1) have a strong positive association with performance (p = 0.652; …

Efektivitas Implementasi Raspro Terhadap Pola Resistensi Dan Biaya Antibiotik Di Rsud Kabupaten Bekasi, Irmawati Hasan, Helen Andriani

Jurnal ARSI : Administrasi Rumah Sakit Indonesia

The increasing use of antibiotics over recent decades has significantly affected global public health, primarily through the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which contributes to higher morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. As a regional referral hospital, Bekasi Regency General Hospital faces substantial challenges related to high resistance rates, with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) showing MRSA at 22.22% and ESBL at 40% in 2024. This study evaluated the implementation of the Prospective System Antimicrobial Regulation Program (RASPRO) in relation to resistance patterns, antibiotic cost efficiency, and supporting roles of governance, human resources, and monitoring systems. A quantitative prospective cohort design was applied, …

Kualitas Hidup Pasien Penyakit Gagal Ginjal Kronik Dan Kepuasan Pelayanan Di Unit Hemodialisis Rumah Sakit Alia Depok: Studi Mixed-Methods, Bimo Kusumo, Vetty Yulianty Permanasari

Jurnal ARSI : Administrasi Rumah Sakit Indonesia

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Indonesia remains a high-incidence condition and most of it underwent hemodialysis in Hospital. This study aims to analyze the quality of life of patients with chronic kidney disease and satisfaction with services in the hemodialysis unit. This study is a mixed-methods study with a quantitative study using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) and Service Quality (SERVQUAL) questionnaires, and a qualitative study with in-depth interviews related to hospital services from both service providers (healthcare professionals) and service recipients (patients). The study found predominantly moderate scores on the WHOQOL-BREF and poor …

Persepsi Dokter Terhadap Kompetensi Perawat Di Rsud Siti Aisyah Lubuklinggau: Analisis Domain Komunikasi, Profesionalisme, Dan Kolaborasi Tim, Novita Purnamasari, Wiku Bakti Bawono Adisasmito

Jurnal ARSI : Administrasi Rumah Sakit Indonesia

This study analyzes doctors' perceptions of nurses' competencies at Siti Aisyah Regional Hospital in Lubuklinggau across three domains: communication, professionalism, and team collaboration. Doctors' perceptions are important for supporting interprofessional collaboration, quality of patient care, and patient outcomes. The study results are expected to identify competency gaps and provide an evidence-based foundation for developing measurable and effective nurse training programs. The study used a quantitative descriptive design with a cross-sectional approach, with a sample of 24 doctors who evaluated nurses' overall competencies in their work units. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire containing 11 Likert-scale items and were analyzed …

Health Horizons Journal, Volume 1, Issue 1

Health Horizons Journal

The Health Horizons Journal was founded in the fall semester of 2025 at Clemson University in order to establish a student-led journal that connects the Clemson community with global health content and empowers student researchers. The mission of this journal is to provide students with an opportunity to publish their research and promote access to scholarly work through open-access publication. This journal is dedicated to publishing at no cost to authors and providing submitting authors from any institution at the undergraduate or graduate levels with equal consideration.

Improving health outcomes on a global scale begins with interdisciplinary collaboration and the …

Analyzing Accessibility And Efficacy Of One Research Survey Website To Test Readability Of Physical Activity Promotion Material Disseminated Online: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Jafra D. Thomas, Anuraj Dhillon, Yi Sheng Wu, Jasmine C. Wong, Regina F. Hockert

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Volume 7: Issue 1, Article 2, 2026.  Accessibility is the effort and ability required to access and navigate environments and participate in activities. Physical activity educational materials disseminated to the public and used within behavior change interventions may be hard to read and navigate, decreasing their accessibility and a study’s validity. This study documented, and addressed, issues that may hinder researchers’ ability to gauge accessibility of their online educational materials using the cloze procedure (a direct readability measure, requires guessing missing words from text passages). A multi-stage, mixed methods pilot study was utilized (August 2022 to May 2023). Phase 1: …

Implementation Of A Low-Cost Tobacco-Free Intervention In A Permanent Supportive Housing Program To Address Cancer Disparities Among People Who Have Experienced Homelessness, Ammar D. Siddiqi, Phoebe Wong, Cathy Crouch, Lorraine R. Reitzel

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Objectives: Permanent supportive housing residents who have experienced homelessness use tobacco products at elevated rates, contributing to higher cancer risk. Agencies that provide wraparound support services to this group are committed to rebuilding their stability by improving their health. Yet, their delivery of tobacco screening and cessation care is limited, as is information about their clients’ tobacco use behaviors. Here, we evaluated a low-cost intervention for an Albert Schweitzer Fellowship project conducted in a permanent supportive housing program with 650 adults who had experienced homelessness in Houston, Texas.

Materials and Methods: Between August 2024 and February 2025, client-facing staff members …

Validating A Predictive Model Of Nurse Burnout Using Integrated Data Sources, Shahin Davoudpour, Mahesh Vaidyanathan, Rinad S. Beidas, Hannah Mulroe, Elliott Brandon, Matthew Lloyd, Gabrielle M. Olson, Mallika Pandey, Daniel Blumenthal, Baljash Cheema, Gaurava Agarwal

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Objective: To evaluate an integrated machine learning model using routinely collected organizational data to identify nurses at increased risk for burnout.

Background: Health care worker burnout directly threatens patient safety, quality of care, and workforce stability. Although nurses experience significantly higher burnout rates than physicians and face distinct operational stressors (eg, staffing shortages, continuous bedside care demands), most predictive modeling efforts have focused on physicians. Current approaches to identifying burnout typically rely on voluntary surveys, but advances in data science and machine learning have created new opportunities to move beyond self-reported measures.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included 1,177 nurses …

Implementation Of A Modified Trigger Tool For Adverse Drug Reaction Detection In Pediatric With Covid-19 In Indonesia, Nisa Maria, Avini Risda Khaerani, Indri Yuliani Hamdani, Annisa Lazuardi Larasati, Larasati Arrum Kusumawardani

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Pediatric patients are vulnerable to adverse drug reactions (ADRs), necessitating prompt monitoring of treatment-related adverse events (AEs). This study analyzed ADRs in pediatric COVID-19 patients using a modified trigger tool to identify AEs, followed by causality analysis with the Naranjo Algorithm, and evaluated the tool’s performance. A cross-sectional, single-center retrospective study was conducted at a hospital in Indonesia from August 2020 to July 2021, using total sampling of pediatric patients aged one to≥24 hours with COVID-19. AEs were identified using 23 triggers (15 laboratory result, eight drug-administration). A total of 242 positive triggers were detected among 120 patients (mean two …

Murine Typhus In Georgia: Historical Context And A Probable Case Of Resurgence Where Previously-Thought Eradicated, Giovanni Mella-Velazquez, Christopher He, Bolanle Akinsola, Judson Miller

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Murine typhus, caused by Rickettsia typhi, is a flea-borne illness historically endemic to the southeastern United States, with initial cases reported in Atlanta, Georgia in 1913. Following vector control efforts, incidence declined significantly, and the disease was removed from the nationally notifiable disease list in 1987. While recent cases have been reported in select regions, murine typhus has not been documented in Georgia for decades. We present a pediatric case in Atlanta that may represent the first reported instance in nearly 40 years, suggesting possible reemergence in the Southeast.

Methods: We conducted a case report analysis of a pediatric …

Perancangan Dan Implementasi Sistem Skrining Risiko Penyakit Berat Berbasis Web Dengan Fitur Rekomendasi, Mood Tracker, Dan Chatbot Pendukung, Septiawan Hadi Prasetyo, Restu Utami, Daniel Hulio Saptianus, Mirza Arya Herdiansyah

Jurnal Biostatistik, Kependudukan, dan Informatika Kesehatan

Skrining kesehatan dini berperan penting dalam upaya pencegahan penyakit dan peningkatan kualitas hidup masyarakat. Namun keterbatasan akses layanan kesehatan serta rendahnya kesadaran masyarakat masih menjadi tantangan utama. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merancang dan mengimplementasikan sistem skrining risiko penyakit berat berbasis web yang dilengkapi kecerdasan buatan sebagai pendukung rekomendasi dan respon hasil skrining kesehatan. Sistem SagaHealth dikembangkan menggunakan arsitektur aplikasi yang terdistribusi dengan perbedaan antara antarmuka pengguna, server aplikasi, dan basis data. Proses skrining dilakukan berdasarkan data kesehatan pengguna dan menghasilkan kategori risiko penyakit. Selanjutnya, kecerdasan buatan digunakan untuk menyajikan narasi rekomendasi kesehatan yang informatif dan mudah dipahami. Verifikasi sistem dilakukan …

Network Analysis Of Chronic Disease Diagnosis Co-Documentation In Insurance Claims Among Older Arkansans, Mohsen Bazargan, Mohammadreza Rezaei, Ehsan Yaghmaei, Meredith Adkins, Panteha Rezaiean, Koustav Ganguly, James Abbas, Cyril Rakovski

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Multimorbidity among older adults presents growing clinical and economic challenges, particularly in medically underserved states such as Arkansas. However, it remains unclear whether chronic conditions documented in routine healthcare encounters exhibit structured patterns of diagnosis co-documentation or primarily reflect incidental co-documentation. Understanding these patterns may inform future studies of multimorbidity and healthcare utilization.

Objective

To characterize statewide, sex-stratified patterns of claim-level diagnosis co-documentation among Arkansas adults aged ≥ 65 years using administrative claims data.

Methods

We analyzed 2024 IQVIA administrative claims for Arkansas residents aged ≥ 65 years (1408,707 claims from 35,253 unique patients). Analyses were conducted at the …

Bridging Awareness And Action: A Multilevel Model Of Organizational Learning, Safety Climate, And Sickle Cell Trait Safety Compliance, Kimberly Snowden

Annual DBA Scholars Conference

Despite the existence of NCAA and National Athletic Trainers’ Association guidelines, preventable sickle cell trait (SCT)-related adverse events continue to occur in athletic settings. This study examines how organizational learning capacity, safety climate, leadership commitment, and individual risk perception influence compliance with SCT safety protocols and related safety outcomes. Drawing on Organizational Learning Theory, Safety Climate Theory, and the Health Belief Model, the study proposes a multilevel framework tested through an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Findings are expected to identify organizational predictors of compliance and provide practical recommendations to strengthen SCT safety implementation and reduce preventable athlete harm.