Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons^™

Practical Strategies For Establishing A Physical Activity Program For Older Aboriginal People - Reflections About Decolonising Practice, Margaret Gidgup, Josephine Umbella, Anne-Marie Hill

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Background
Physical activity (PA) is a vital component of healthy ageing. However, there are few culturally appropriate PA programs available for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The objectives of this review were to i) assist health professionals to gain understanding about working with older Aboriginal people, ii) provide practical strategies that guide a decolonising approach when delivering PA programs.

Methods
A review of PA program delivery was undertaken by two researchers, one of whom was a Noongar Wadjak woman. The researchers conducted a weekly PA program for older Aboriginal people on Noongar Boodja (Country). The researchers took a …

Preparedness For Practice Of Health Professionals In Papua New Guinea: A Cross-Sectional Survey Of Nurses And Community Health Workers., Mary Kililo, Julie Dopsie, Sulpain Passingan, Julie Kep, Nina Joseph, Russel Kitau, Mary Roroi, Chris Rossiter, Jenny Sim, Di Brown, Caroline Havery, Ali Moloney, Michele Rumsey

Pacific Journal of Health

Introduction

Papua New Guinea (PNG) experiences widespread health inequity and shortage of health professionals, exacerbated by poverty, isolation, gender-based violence and limited infrastructure, transport and accessible services. Nurses and community health workers (CHW) represent 72% of health workforce. However, health professional education programs are outdated and not aligned with national health priorities. We aimed to explore the adequacy of current curricula for nurses and CHWs by examining graduate competencies and preparedness for practice.

Methods

Cross-sectional study with four cohorts: 1) 130 new nurse graduates, 2) 75 nurses who supervised them, 3) 105 new CHW graduates and 4) 65 CHW supervisors. …

Open Access In The Age Of Ai: The Journal Of Appalachian Health And Hurricane Helene Recovery, Noah Wren, Bradley Firchow

Journal of Appalachian Health

The recent destruction brought upon the Appalachian region by Hurricane Helene has emphasized the importance of the Journal of Appalachian Health. As an open-access peer-reviewed source of information, the Journal plays a critical role in not only facilitating public health research about Hurricane Helene, but also combating misinformation regarding the event. In the days following Hurricane Helene, misinformation about the federal government’s response, along AI generated images, have left many in the region confused and misled about what had happened. Going forward, the Journal will play an necessary part in making sure accurate information is shared to understand how …

Reviewer Acknowledgements, Randy Wykoff, Emily Wilson

Journal of Appalachian Health

We at the Journal of Appalachian Health would like to thank the multitude of reviewers who have volunteered their time, talents, and attention to the journal. Reviewers help us consider the rigor and quality of the submissions we receive, and their willingness to read material ahead of publication ensures we can bring timely research to our readers in Appalachia and further afield.

Impacts Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Intimate Partner Violence And Child Maltreatment Services In Rural Northwest North Carolina, Elisabeth G. Galphin, Adam Hege, Amy Dellinger Page

Journal of Appalachian Health

The current study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on IPV and child maltreatment services in rural northwestern North Carolina. Qualitative interviews were conducted with eight professionals representing six service organizations across four counties. The findings highlighted challenges these agencies faced throughout the pandemic, new risks for the clients served, and positive outcomes. In addition, it has been a useful learning experience as public health and social service agencies learn to serve their communities more effectively moving forward. This is especially relevant for rural communities, as it has put public health preparedness at the forefront.

The Impact Of Primary Care Physician Capacity On Preventable Hospitalizations: Identifying Bright Spots In The Appalachian & Mississippi Delta Regions, Michael Topmiller, Peter J. Mallow, Hoon Byun, Mark Carrozza, Yalda Jabbarpour

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Several studies have documented that higher rates of primary care physicians are associated with lower rates of preventable hospitalizations. Counties with higher rates of preventable hospitalizations are found in the Appalachian and Mississippi (MS) Delta Regions.

Purpose: (1) To determine if the association of primary care capacity with preventable hospitalizations is different in the Appalachian and MS Delta regions compared to the rest of the U.S., and (2) to explore primary care capacity in counties with lower-than-expected preventable hospitalization rates.

Methods: This study modeled preventable hospitalizations with primary care physicians (PCP) per 100,000 (PCP capacity) while controlling for several …

Psychosocial Factors, Stress And Sleep Among Rural Appalachian Kentucky Residents With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Blake Dipaola, Zoe Taylor, Eric Hennemann, Brittany L. Smalls, Philip M. Westgate, Nancy Schoenberg

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Rural Appalachian residents experience higher rates of most chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Stress and sleep deficiency also are common in the region.

Purpose: To better understand these associated health burdens, the relationship among these conditions and psychosocial factors—such as depressive symptoms, distress, empowerment, and social support—was examined among Appalachian residents with T2DM.

Methods: Using data collected from a community-based sample of Appalachian adults with T2DM, the study examined whether psychosocial factors were associated with perceived stress (Cohen Perceived Stress Scale) and self-reported sleep deficiency (Epworth Sleepiness Scale). Multilevel linear mixed effects regression modeling was used …

Nutrition Education Needs And Barriers Of Uninsured Clients Who Utilize Free Clinics In Western North Carolina, Manan Roy, Alisha Farris, Erin Loy, Lauren Sastre, Danielle L. Nunnery

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Many uninsured adults rely on free health clinics for prevention and treatment of chronic disease. Little is known about the nutrition education needs of adults served by free health clinics, especially those living in counties within the Western North Carolina Appalachian Mountain Region.

Methods: An in-person survey was distributed to 202 clients of two free health clinics in western North Carolina. Descriptive analyses were conducted to determine frequency distributions for food and physical activity practices, acceptable topics and strategies for nutrition education, and the acceptance and barriers for various modalities.

Results: Depending on the clinic, 49-58% of participants were …

Using Public Funeral And Obituary Listings To Identify Spikes In Excess Mortality In One Appalachian County, Allen Archer, Melissa White, Megan Quinn, Randy Wykoff

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Delays (10-22 months) in availability of official state and county-level mortality data could have significant public health consequences. The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated the need for health officials to access timely death data to identify unexpected increases in mortality in their communities.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine if funeral home listings and/or newspaper obituaries could help identify excess mortality on the local level, prior to the availability of official death records.

Methods: To calculate excess mortality, four years (2017–2020) of data were collected from three sources: the state health department, online funeral home listings, and newspaper …

Aftermath: A Word To Appalachia Following Hurricane Helene, Emily Wilson

Journal of Appalachian Health

On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene caused massive and catastrophic flash flooding in the lower Appalachian Region, leveling towns and forever altering much of the landscape. This is an open letter to the people of Appalachia who were affected by the disaster that blindsided our region.

Barriers To Help-Seeking Behavior For Maternal Mental Health Disorders: Application Of The Health Belief Model, Tobi F. Oloyede, Joanne Chopak-Foss

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) have become a leading cause of maternal mortality due to suicide among women in the first year following pregnancy. Although the profile for new mothers who die by suicide is predominantly white, disparities exist between Black and White women in their seeking help for perinatal and/or post-natal mood disorders. For Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), there are differences in the perceptions of the benefits of seeking help for PMADs. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated maternal mental health disorders in the United States particularly for women who live in communities with limited access to …

The Price Of Prevention: Spain And Italy's Approach To National Prep, Jon Burkart

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

While recent advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART) continue to improve the outlook for people living with HIV (PLHIV), new infections remain a concern for health authorities around the world. A clinically proven intervention holds the potential to dramatically reduce new infections: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a once-daily pill for high-risk populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM), that substantially reduces HIV infection risk. However—much like rates of new infection—public provision of PrEP varies considerably among OECD countries. This case study thus seeks to answer the question: What might explain the disparate timeline of adopting public reimbursement for PrEP …

93rd Annual Georgia Public Health Association Meeting And Conference Report, Jimmie H. Smith Jr, Angela Peden, Patrina L. Bowles

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

The 93^rd Annual Meeting and Conference of the Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) was held in Jekyll Island, Georgia, at the Jekyll Island Convention Center, on May 3-5, 2023. The goal of the 2023 Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Conference was to assemble emerging public health professionals, current practitioners, academicians, governing entities, and community stakeholders for educational opportunities and networking to support the vision and mission of GPHA.

The theme for the 2023 Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Conference theme was selected by the GPHA Executive Board during a meeting in the early fall of …

Promoting Healthful And Diverse Eating Behaviours Through An Extracurricular Culinary Skills Intervention In Philadelphia, Matthew D. Kearney, Arlene R. Maheu, Madalyn Booth, Andrew B. Newberg, Peter F. Cronholm, Soussan Ayubcha

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

In the current study we evaluated an afterschool nutrition education programme, called Vetri Cooking Lab (VCL), for promoting healthy and diverse eating habits among at-risk children in the Greater Philadelphia area. To understand potential programme impacts, we conducted a longitudinal analysis of survey data collected before and after participation in VCL. Main study included cooking confidence, cooking knowledge, changes in dietary consumption behaviours, and changes in vegetable preferences. Participants included students in grades 3-11 enrolled in VCL during the 2018-19 school year at VCL sites (n = 60) throughout Philadelphia, PA, and Camden, NJ. Eligible participants completed surveys both before …

Primary Prevention And Motivational Interviewing: Patterns In Athletic Training, Mark C. West, Justin P. Young, Matthew J. Rivera, Kenneth E. Games

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: The BOC practice analysis defines the first domain as Risk Reduction, Wellness and Health Literacy including, “Promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors with effective education and communication.” There is limited evidence on primary prevention measures athletic trainers (ATs) use to address health-related behaviors. Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based patient-centered style of communication used to help patients modify detrimental health behaviors to improve health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore knowledge and practice patterns of primary prevention and motivational interviewing in athletic training. Methods: We used a cross-sectional, web-based survey (Qualtrics, Provo, UT). The survey contained demographic questions, …

Quality Improvement Of Breast And Cervical Cancer Screening Satisfaction Rate At A Utrgv Resident-Led Clinic., Eunbee Cho, Diana Othon Martinez, Jian Garcia Cruz, Nestor Gerardo Astorga, Martha Solis, Oliverio Abarca Guzman, Elimar Gonzalez Morales, Fatimah Bello

Research Colloquium

Background: In the US, 77.3% of women aged 21-65 years have had a Pap smear within the past three years and around 75.9% of women aged 50-74 years reported having a mammogram within the past two years as recommended according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). In UTRGV Resident-led Clinic located in Hidalgo County, the quality metrics data demonstrated screening satisfactory rate for cervical and breast cancer to be 18% in August 2023. This Quality Improvement project is aimed at enhancing the screening satisfactory rate of breast and cervical cancer by 20% at UTRGV Knapp IM Clinic by …

Seeding Belonging: Project Dig Short Report, Jeff Gutierrez, Connie Lewis, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

This short report provides a snapshot of Project DIG, a therapeutic horticulture (TH) pilot project of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities. It contains information about and recommendations for TH as an increased practice for supporting and promoting the quality of life and well-being of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Advances In Biomedical Research And Treatments: What Is Acceptable?, Michael L. Clancy, Khalid M. Iskandarani, Mitchell C. Mccrea

Journal of Health Ethics

This study investigated the technology acceptance (TA) of twenty-first century biomedical treatments by adults in the United States. A new TA instrument was created, using five distinct levels: (1) Healing and Prevention, (2) Replacement Organs, (3) Enhancements-Medical, (4) Enhancements-Discretionary, and (5) Transhumans. An on-line survey produced 353 usable responses, which showed distinct patterns for each of five biomedical treatment levels. There was clear support for Levels 1–3, but very strong opposition to Levels 4–5. The TA finding draws the line between which human interventions are acceptable versus others that should be prohibited through public policies and medical guidelines.

The Icelandic Prevention Model Evaluation Framework And Implementation Integrity And Consistency Assessment, Michael J. Mann, John P. Allegrante, Megan L. Smith, Inga Dora Sigfusdottir, Alfgeir L. Kristjansson

Public and Population Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM) follows a systematic but flexible process of community capacity building, data collection, analysis, dissemination, and community-engaged decision-making to guide the data-informed selection, prioritization, and implementation of intervention strategies in preventing adolescent substance use. This paper describes two new evaluation tools intended to assess the: 1) integrity of IPM implementation, and 2) unique aspects of IPM implementation in different community contexts. These evaluation tools include a: 1) five-phase IPM Evaluation Framework for Assessing Value Across Communities, Cultures, and Outcomes (IPM-EF); and 2) 10-Step IPM Implementation Integrity and Consistency Assessment (IPM-IICA) that utilizes both …

Experiences And Impacts Associated With A Spanish Language Cooking And Gardening Pilot Program, Sarah E Roth, Benjamin Gronowski, Roma Leiva

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Housing As A Medicaid Benefit: Initial Lessons Learned From Health Share’S Housing Benefit Pilot Program, Monique Gill, Benjamin Gronowski, Megan Holtorf

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Physical Exercise-Related Manifestations Of Long Covid: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Chen Zheng, Jun-Jie Chen, Zi-Han Dai, Ke-Wen Wan, Feng-Hua Sun, Jun-Hao Huang, Xiang-Ke Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to systematically assess physical exercise-related symptoms of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC or long COVID) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors.

METHODS: Eight databases were systematically searched on March 03, 2024. Original studies that compared physical exercise-related parameters measured by exercise testing between COVID-19 survivors who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection over 3 months and non-COVID-19 controls were included. A random-effects model was utilized to determine the mean differences (MDs) or standardized MDs in the meta-analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 40 studies with 6241 COVID-19 survivors were included. The 6-min walk test, maximal oxygen consumption (VO …

Covid-19 And Health Equity: Lessons Learned From The Pandemic, Sumaya Ali, Lakell Archer, Erica L. Jensen

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Health inequities refer to avoidable, unjust differences in health outcomes caused by systemic disadvantages rooted in social, economic, and environmental contexts (Braveman, 2014). Health disparities refer to differences in health outcomes between groups, often measured by prevalence, morbidity, or mortality (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020). Health inequalities are measurable differences in health status that may arise from biological, social, or environmental factors (World Health Organization [WHO], 2019). Health inequities, however, are specifically preventable and unjust differences.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted these inequities, intensifying pre-existing structural disparities within healthcare and societal systems. The pandemic underscored the urgency of …

Emotional Overeating And Eating Motives During Covid-19 In Polish Women: Intergroup Comparison Among Participants In Various Body Mass Index Categories, Adriana Modrzejewska, Justyna Modrzejewska, Kamila Czepczor-Bernat, Julia Wyszomirska

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: Taking into account the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ac-companying lockdown resulting in increased negative emotions, it is interesting to learn about eating motives and behaviors and check their intensity. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences between Polish women in various body mass index categories in terms of eating motives and emotional overeating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: This study sample comprised 1,447 women (M_age = 31.34 ± 11.05; M_BMI = 23.79 ± 4.59). The research used the following tools: the Eating Motivation Survey, the Emotional Overeating Questionnaire, and …

The Relationship Between The Clinical Scales Of The Personality Assessment Inventory And Bmi Reduction In Bariatric Surgery Patients, Douglas Lytz

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Since the National Institute of Health recommendation in 1991, most bariatric clinics and insurance companies across the United States now require psychological evaluations for patients before receiving bariatric surgery (Marek & Heinberg, 2016). Clinicians are now using various objective personality measures and other assessment tools during comprehensive evaluations to help make recommendations to surgeons and clinical staff about patient suitability for weight loss surgery. Previous studies suggest that specific demographics and clinical elevations on objective personality assessments may predict the reduction of body mass index (BMI) in patients after bariatric surgery (Oltmanns et al., 2020; Hoyt & Walter, 2022a). This …

Relationship Between Household Water Sanitation And Hygiene Behaviors And Diarrhea Between 2010-2020 In Rwanda, Amans Ntakarutimana Dr., Patrick A. Tschida Dr.

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Rwanda has made considerable progressive policy efforts to significantly reduce diarrhea among children under 5 years old, especially since 2010. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the relationship between household water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) behaviors and diarrhea among children under 5 years old between 2010 and 2020. We used secondary data from the 2010, 2015, and 2020 Rwanda Demographic Health Surveys. We used descriptive statistics, pairwise comparisons, and linear regression designs to assess (a) the prevalence of household WASH behaviors across districts, regions, urban areas, and rural areas, (b) the variation of household WASH behaviors over time, and (c) …

How Family Communication Emerges In Hpv Vaccine Parent Narratives, Samantha Garcia, Suellen Hopfer, Michelle Miller-Day, Jamie Mccain, Michael L. Hecht

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

Family communication surrounding HPV vaccination can support or hinder HPV cancer prevention strategies. We used narrative communication theory to elicit HPV vaccine decision narratives in the context of family communication from a purposive sample of 29 parents of adolescents. Parent narratives indicated that family negotiations occur throughout the decision-making process, topic avoidance was common among parents of unvaccinated and undervaccinated children, parents had concerns that vaccination is a sign of approving sexual permissiveness, and family communication was often prompted by encounters in the exam room. Understanding complex family dynamics in the context of vaccination decision-making, the role of family communication …

Secular Trends In Underweight, Overweight, And Physical Fitness Of Girls And Boys Aged 16–18 In Eastern Poland From 2006 To 2016–2021, Agnieszka Wasiluk, Jerzy Saczuk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: Significant changes in the nutrition and physical fitness of children and adolescents have been observed in many countries around the world. The purpose of this study is to determine the changes in the prevalence of underweight, normal BMI, and overweight, as well as in the physical fitness of girls and boys from eastern Poland. Materials and methods: The study was conducted over the years 2006–2021. BMI was calculated, and physical fitness was assessed using the EUROFIT test. The results were statistically analyzed. Results: Minor changes in underweight were observed, and even a re-duction in its prevalence among girls was …

Implementation Of Healthy Heart Ambassador To Improve Blood Pressure Control At Community Health Centers In Texas, Natalia I Heredia, Ella R Garza, Fernanda Velasco-Huerta, Tracy L Swoboda, Pierre Fwelo, Patenne D Mathews, Maria E Fernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the United States and can increase a person's risk of stroke and other cardiovascular complications. Yet only 1 in 4 people with high blood pressure in the United States have their blood pressure managed. To improve hypertension control, we supported 9 health centers in Texas with the implementation of the Healthy Heart Ambassador Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring (HHA) Program.

METHODS: We provided health center training using the HHA Program Facilitation Training Guide, recorded barriers to implementing the HHA program, and employed strategies to overcome those barriers.

RESULTS: There were 68 …

Development Of Message Passing-Based Graph Convolutional Networks For Classifying Cancer Pathology Reports, Hong Jun Yoon, Hilda B. Klasky, Andrew E Blanchard, J. Blair Christian, Eric B Durbin, Xiao Cheng Wu, Antoinette Stroup, Jennifer Doherty, Linda Coyle, Lynne Penberthy, Georgia D Tourassi

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: Applying graph convolutional networks (GCN) to the classification of free-form natural language texts leveraged by graph-of-words features (TextGCN) was studied and confirmed to be an effective means of describing complex natural language texts. However, the text classification models based on the TextGCN possess weaknesses in terms of memory consumption and model dissemination and distribution. In this paper, we present a fast message passing network (FastMPN), implementing a GCN with message passing architecture that provides versatility and flexibility by allowing trainable node embedding and edge weights, helping the GCN model find the better solution. We applied the FastMPN model to …