Epidemiology Commons^™

Predictors Of Prep Uptake By Black Gay And Bisexual Men In Ohio, Ade Elisha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Preexisting Hypertension And Demographic Factors On Pandemic-Era Anxiety Using The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, Chukwuemeka Ogbonnaya Okpom

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Decoding Implant-Related Sickness: Unraveling The Complexities Of Breast Implant Illness, Madison M. Stewart

Senior Theses

This thesis investigates the phenomenon of breast implant illness (BII), examining its potential correlation with individual factors such as obesity and poor lifestyle habits. BII, characterized by nonspecific symptoms, is often self-diagnosed by patients influenced by social media and internet sources, leading to requests for implant removal. Conducting a comprehensive meta-analysis, the study scrutinizes existing literature to evaluate the association between BII, obesity, and lifestyle choices. Employing inclusion criteria, peer-reviewed publications are analyzed through systematic review methodology to offer insights into the interplay between BII and adiposity, exploring inflammatory mechanisms and patient behaviors like exercise and smoking. The research aims …

Individual Risk Factors Associated With Cesarean Section Surgical Site Infections Among African American Women In California, Paula St Hill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Sociodemographic Determinants Of Potentially Avoidable Hospitalizations Due To Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions Among Hospitalized Patients In The United States, Munira Kashem

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Social determinants of health play a crucial role in explaining the variation of potentially avoidable hospitalizations (PAH) due to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSCs). Utilizing data from the National Inpatient Sample from 2018 to 2020 in the United States, this study conducted retrospective cohort analyses to explore the relationships between sociodemographic factors, specifically income, race, geography, age, and sex and PAH. Our approach used multilevel logistic regression models to adjust for potential confounders and account for clustering of admissions within hospitals. Of the 17,629,891 hospital admissions examined in this study, 1,868,609 (10.6%) were attributable to ACSCs. Our results indicate that …

The Association Between Cognitive Dysfunctions And Cardiovascular Disease Of Minority And Lgbtq+ Communities In The United States, Nathan G. De Shields

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Dementia, the loss of cognitive acuity is an umbrella term of neuro-degenerative symptoms that impact an estimated 6.5 million Americans, and amid heart disease, cancers, and emerging viruses, such as COVID-19, has reportedly increased in prevalence. A cross-sectional study of secondary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was conducted to analyze minority and non-heterosexual experiences of health risks found higher in prior studies of distress rates in LGBTQ+ adults. The socio-ecological framework was used to interpret the competing ecologies of social health determinants in natural and social settings. Literature reviews on cognitive dysfunction and other vascular …

Covid-19 Vaccine And Survival Of Diabetes Patient On Dialysis, Luis Guillermo De Jesús Iii Vega

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Association Between Malaria Educational Message Exposure And Malaria Prevalence Among Children In Nigeria, Eberechukwu Jacob Ajiwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Women’S Mental Health, Dr. Mercedes Zubieta Richmond

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Correlates For Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use Among Young Adults, Uchenna Sam Chinweuba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Racial/Ethnic Differences In The Association Between Health Literacy And Quality Of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors, Tenesia D. Carey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

"Shut Down And Closed Off": A Routine Activity Approach To Investigating The Relationship Between Covid-19 School Closures And Child Sexual Abuse Report Characteristics In Georgia, Spencer E. Riner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 created a public health crisis that led to an unprecedented number of school closures. A major concern raised by child advocates, law enforcement, and social service providers was the possible increase in undetected child abuse and maltreatment. Undergirding this concern was the belief that this mitigation effort might place child abuse victims and offenders within proximity for extended periods of time. While this was a significant concern, it has rarely been analyzed empirically. To address this gap in the literature, this thesis investigates how school closures impacted the characteristics of child sexual abuse (CSA) reports …

Dna Methylation-Based Epigenetic Biomarkers In Cell-Type Deconvolution And Tumor Tissue Of Origin Identification, Ze Zhang

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that regulates gene expression and is essential to establishing and preserving cellular identity. Genome-wide DNA methylation arrays provide a standardized and cost-effective approach to measuring DNA methylation. When combined with a cell-type reference library, DNA methylation measures allow the assessment of underlying cell-type proportions in heterogeneous mixtures. This approach, known as DNA methylation deconvolution or methylation cytometry, offers a standardized and cost-effective method for evaluating cell-type proportions. While this approach has succeeded in discerning cell types in various human tissues like blood, brain, tumors, skin, breast, and buccal swabs, the existing methods have major …

Opportunities For Mental Health Interventions In Rural Mississippi Communities During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Quantitative Analysis, Brice Fortinberry

Theses and Dissertations

COVID-19 presented unique challenges for rural Mississippi communities including impacts on the mental health of rural individuals. This research study aimed to identify opportunities for mental health interventions to provide health promotion professionals with quantitative data on the accessibility and the likelihood of engagement with mental health-fostering behaviors. A secondary objective of this research was to categorize these behaviors within the constructs of the Social Ecological Model. Demographics for rural Mississippi communities were collected and displayed, and using multivariate analyses including Spearman’s correlation and a Mann-Whitney U test the correlation between mental health fostering behaviors and demographic factors was obtained. …

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Age, Disease Stage, And Patient-Reported Quality Of Life, Sheila Jagers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Effects Of The U.S. Veterinary Feed Directive Final Rule On The Prevalence Of Violative Antibiotic Residues And Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria In Animal Products, Md Shamim Sarkar

Doctoral Dissertations

Antibiotic-resistant is a public health concern. The dissertation objective was to assess the effect of the implementation of the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rule changes on the prevalence of violative antibiotic residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food-animal tissues, retail meats, and cecal samples from food animals compared to the pre-VFD rule change period in the U.S. To understand the effect of implemented VFD rule changes on violative antibiotic residues in food-animal tissues, inspector-generated sampling (IGS) data from the U.S. National Residue Surveillance Program (NRP) was analyzed. An important observation was that implementing VFD rule changes was associated with the decreased …

Environmental Exposures And Aging., Daniel Chris Gomes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, research into air pollution has shown that exposure to certain components in air pollution, primarily PM2.5 can accelerate biological aging and thereby lead to increased susceptibility to multiple diseases. We hypothesize that prolonged exposure to air pollutants can result in premature aging leading to extensive tissue dysfunction and susceptibility to diseases. To examine this, we exposed mice to PM2.5 for 9, 15, and 21 days, then measured the telomere lengths, cellular senescence, and histone methylation patterns of multiple cell types. We found consistently increased telomere attrition, cellular senescence and advanced age-consistent histone methylation patterns in groups exposed …

Genetic Risk Scores For Hypertension And Chronic Kidney Disease In African Americans., Aastha Kakar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hypertension (HT) and chronic kidney diseases (CKD) are complex conditions, disproportionally prevalent among African Americans (AA) and are influenced by multiple genetic as well as environmental factors. Genetic risk scores (GRS) enable the analysis of the combined effects of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This study investigates the association of blood pressure (BP) and CKD GRS with BP, hypertension (HT) and CKD; early-onset HT and CKD; and investigates interactions of the GRSs with environmental measures in AA. We observed a significant association between the BP-GRS with HT, SBP and DBP. The odds of HT for one standard deviation (s.d.) increase …

A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Adverse Childhood Experience Exposure On Cancer Diagnosis Utilizing The 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey Data, Emma Zipperer

Capstone Experience

Objective: To determine the association between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and cancer diagnosis based on ACE exposure levels.

Methods: We utilized data collected in the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. The study population (n=54,148) was restricted to states that reported on the optional model of experiencing ACEs and those who responded about cancer diagnosis. A univariate analysis, bivariate analysis and a multivariate logistic regression were performed. Odds of cancer diagnosis among those with differing ACE exposure levels were calculated.

Results: High ACE exposure had 20% higher odds of cancer diagnosis when compared to low ACE exposure. White, …

Associations Between Self-Reported Cognitive Decline And Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (Brfss) 2022, Hailey Child

Capstone Experience

Objective: This study seeks to capture how self-reports measure cognitive decline. The association between chronic conditions and cognition with age consideration in individuals aged 45 and older is investigated.

Methods: Univariate analysis generates frequencies and weighted percentages of 2022 BRFSS data. Chi-square tests and polytomous regressions generate odds ratios for bivariate analyses. A weighted multiple logistic regression model stratified by age group analyzes self-reported cognitive decline.

Results: Respondents ages 45 to 54 with three or more chronic diseases have the highest odds (OR = 6.81; 95% CI = 4.42, 10.48) of cognitive decline. Respondents 75 and older …

Exploration Of The Implementation Of An Integrated Electronic Laboratory Information Management System On Quality Diagnostics Service Indicators At A County Level Public Hospital In Western Kenya., Kelly Allen

Capstone Collection

Underinvestment in pathology and laboratory capacity caused by low visibility in research and in prioritization by public health leaders results in limited effective healthcare coverage and an estimated 1.1 million premature deaths annually in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries. Kenya’s public health laboratories provide a median 41% of the Essential Diagnostic List to their patients and in Kisumu County, as much as 44.2% of the population has little to no access to essential diagnostics. The government of Kisumu implemented the county Health Laboratory Strategic Plan 2018-2022 to address this public health challenge. Little information exists on the effectiveness of these initiatives and the …

Morbid Obesity In Children 12-18 Years And Bariatric And Nonpharmacologic Influence And Interaction, Sam Uche Osuoha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Texas Medicaid Factors Associated With Childhood Vaccination Nonadherence: A Regression-Based Statistical Analysis With Moderation, Terry Hartley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Child/Parent Characteristics On Ultra-Processed Food Intake In Preschool-Aged Children, A Latent Class Analysis Of Obesity-Related Factors And Obesity Risk, And The Qualitative Impact Of 9-11 Year Old's Perception Of Unhealthy Food Marketing, Jennifer E. Carroll

Doctoral Dissertations

Childhood overweight/obesity is an epidemic in the US. Modifiable risk factors, such as intake of foods that are highly processed, are heavily marketed to children. Exposure to food advertisements, along with home environment factors, family meal styles, and digital media habits shapes children’s preferences, tastes, and habits. Predictors of ultra-processed food (UPF) intake in children are unclear and the potential effect of ad exposure on UPF intake is unknown. It is also unknown if there are distinct response patterns among a collection of potentially obesity-related factors, and if distinct groups affect child BMI. Additionally, more qualitative research is needed to …

The Use Of Alcohol Impregnated Port Catheters For Decreasing Central Line Infections In Acute Care, Shana M. Coons

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Lack of proper sterile protocol for central lines was noted as a problem in the acute care units, causing CLASBI rates to be higher than the national average at the hospital in question.

PICOT: In hospitalized acute care adult patients 18 years of age and older with central lines, how does the use of alcohol impregnated port protectors (AIPPs) compared to current central line sanitation practices affect central-line associated infections (CLASBI) within 10 weeks?

Evidence: The literature evidence suggests that Alcohol Impregnated Port Protectors (AIPPs) decrease CLASBI rates and provide better outcomes for acute care patients with central …

Gender Differences In Episodic Memory In Later Life: The Mediating Role Of Education, Sara Robinson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the United States (U.S.), 14 million individuals aged 65+ are expected to be diagnosed with dementia by 2060, and women are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed. Low education is a well-established risk factor for dementia and is hypothesized to partly explain the gender differences in late-life cognition. However, few studies have investigated education as a mediator of these gender differences. This study aims to investigate education as a mediator of gender differences in episodic memory using longitudinal data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS). I used a sample of 35,721 respondents (20,190 women and 15,531 …

Developing An Online Questionnaire To Investigate The Covid-19 Pandemic’S Impacts On Social Isolation And Health In Older Adults Living With Multimorbidity: A Pilot Study, Patricia Nistor

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction. Social restrictions preventing the spread of COVID-19 possibly increased social isolation and loneliness. The validity and reliability of a questionnaire assessing the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on social isolation and loneliness in community dwelling older adults with multimorbidity was investigated.

Methods. A conceptual framework was developed to guide questionnaire construction. Participants were recruited through professional networks, comprising a convenience sample. Feedback interviews assessed usability and face validity. Content validity was assessed using a Content Validity Matrix, and construct validity through tests of association. Reliability of validated scales was assessed using Cronbach’s ⍺. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were computed. …

Genome-Scale Methylation Analysis In Blood And Tumor Identifies Immune Profile, Age Acceleration, And Dna Methylation Alterations Associated With Bladder Cancer Outcomes, Ji-Qing Chen

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Bladder cancer patients receive frequent screening due to the high tumor recurrence rate (more than 60%). Nowadays, the conventional monitoring method relies on cystoscopy which is highly invasive and increases patient morbidity and burden to the health care system with frequent follow-up. As a result, it is urgent to explore novel markers related to the outcomes of bladder cancer. Immune profiles have been associated with cancer outcomes and may have the potential to be biomarkers for outcomes management. However, little work has been conducted to investigate the associations of immune cell profiles with bladder cancer outcomes. Here, I utilized the …

Improving Minors' Access To Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder: A Policy Analysis, Sara Jane Hamilton

Master's Projects and Capstones

As the opioid epidemic continues to have devastating effects on our communities, medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUDs) are severely underutilized especially for adolescents. Unlike adults, minors need parental approval before obtaining MOUDs presenting a key barrier to timely treatment. Being able to treat adolescents as soon as they are ready is critically important for people with OUD, and while cost and other barriers have been addressed in the literature, there is a paucity on how parental consent affects the accessibility of treatment. This paper aims to explore a potential policy in California that addresses the lack of access …

Association Of Birth Weight And Preterm Birth With Subsequent Risk For Hypertension In Women From The Women’S Health Initiative, Christian P. Daniele

Masters Theses

Hypertension is a chronic disease with an estimated prevalence of nearly 50% in US adults. In addition to sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, evidence suggests that in utero and early life exposures may contribute to life-long risk of hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the potential associations between an individual’s birthweight and preterm birth status with their risk for hypertension in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) cohort. WHI is a large, multi-racial cohort of postmenopausal women. At study entry, birthweight and preterm birth status were self-reported by category (< 6 lbs., 6-7 lbs. 15 oz., 8-9 lbs. 15 oz., or ≥ 10 lbs.; ≥ 4 weeks premature or full term). Baseline and incident hypertension status were self-reported; mean systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and 30-second pulse were also recorded at baseline by trained study staff. Linear, logistic, and Cox-proportional hazards regression models were used to generate crude and adjusted beta estimates, odds ratios, and hazards ratios, respectively. After adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors, we found that participants born at a low birthweight had a higher mean systolic blood pressure than participants born at a normal birthweight and were at increased risk for both baseline and incident hypertension. Women born at a higher birthweight had a lower mean systolic blood pressure and were at lower risk for baseline and incident hypertension. When compared to participants born full term, participants born preterm were at increased risk for baseline and incident hypertension. These results support current research on early life exposures and health risks later in life. Long term follow-up or targeted counseling may be required for individuals born prematurely or at low birthweights to prevent and treat hypertension and associated cardiovascular outcomes.