Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Mobilizing Prevention And Early Detection Of Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias (Adrd) In Allegheny County Through The Area Agency On Aging (Aaa), Laiba N. Mirza

Public Health Capstone Projects

1. Objectives: In collaboration with the Department of Human Services (DHS): the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) using the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI), my capstone project will involve the development of a comprehensive literature review examining the impacts of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) on patients and their caregivers. The project aims to help the AAA focus on strategies to delay the onset of ADRD in Allegheny County. It also seeks to evaluate and enhance early detection programs for ADRD established by the AAA in communities within the county. Additionally, the project will explore how public health initiatives can …

Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy: Evidence From Italy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alessandro Del Ponte, Audrey De Dominicis, Paolo Canofari

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

Objectives

Study design

The Ethical Dilemma Of Social Media, Janet H. Southerland

New Orleans Dental Association News

Social media has transformed dentistry, enhancing communication, education, and patient engagement. However, ethical challenges, including privacy concerns and misinformation, pose risks. This article explores the benefits and challenges of social media in dentistry, emphasizing the need for ethical guidelines to uphold professional standards while leveraging digital advancements for improved care and education.

The Athletes’ Plate: Understanding Influences Of Athletes’ Eating Attitudes, Exercise Behaviors, And Body Image Satisfaction, Delanie Patterson, Brooklynn Raacke, Ryssa Schlaefli

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Delanie Patterson¹, Brooklynn Raacke¹, and Ryssa Schlaefli²

¹Department of Psychology, Fort Hays State University

²Department of Health and Human Performance, Fort Hays State University

Faculty Sponsors: Brooke Mann¹, Ph.D. and Jessica Phelan², Ph.D.

¹Department of Psychology, Fort Hays State University

²Department of Health and Human Performance, Fort Hays State University

Hays, Kansas

Introduction: Disordered eating (DE), compulsive exercise (CE), and body image satisfaction (BIS) negatively affect male and female athletes. These variables each have a core symptomology but continue to evolve with the increased usage of social …

Adolescent Reproductive Health Promotion For Senior High School Students, Niken Meilani, Sunarru Samsi Hariadi, Fransiskus Trisakti Haryadi

Kesmas

Adolescence is a vulnerable period to reproductive health problems, especially regarding issues of sexuality. Healthy adolescent behavior is needed to achieve the SDGs targets by 2030. This study aimed to analyze personal factors such as attitudes, perceptions, and self-efficacy, as well as environmental factors like family, school, friends, community, and social media's role in adolescent reproductive health behavior and health promotion models. This quantitative analysis was conducted using the survey method with 326 respondents at 32 senior high schools, involving 159 male and 167 female adolescents, as samples taken through a multistage random sampling technique. This study used a questionnaire …

Thai Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax: Does It Really Help?, Sitaporn Suriya, Buraskorn Torut

Kesmas

A solution recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases is the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax. This study aimed to evaluate the Thai SSB tax efficiency affecting the change in post-tax individual-level consumption and find causal explanations for the people’s consumption behavior after the SSB tax was implemented. This study used a Productivity Model, and stratified random sampling was conducted by selecting 1,200 people. An in-depth interview was conducted to seek causal explanations for post-SSB tax consumption behavior with 15 key informants. The results revealed the SSB tax’s efficiency in terms of perception and understanding at …

Socio-Epidemiological Perspectives Of Sexual Trauma Experiences And Influential Factors On Sexual Orientation In Men Who Have Sex With Men, Rico Januar Sitorus, Misnaniarti Misnaniarti, Legiran Legiran, Rizma Adlia Syakurah, Diana Dewi Sartika, Asri Maharani, Retta Patresia

Kesmas

The complexity of sexuality and sexual trauma experiences, including harassment, unwanted touching, sexual urges, and forced sexual intercourse, should not be underestimated because of the tendency to initiate adverse psychosocial impacts. Sexual harassment can increase mental health risks, which may influence sexual orientation decisions. This quantitative study, using a cross-sectional design, aimed to determine a relationship between sexual trauma experiences and sexual orientation in men who have sex with men (MSM). This study population was MSM living in Palembang and Prabumulih City, with a sample size of 216 respondents. The proportion of respondents with homosexual orientation was 57.1%, and the …

Exploring Physician Well-Being: A Bibliometric Analysis Of Mental Health, Suriya Kumareswaran, Bala Murali Sundram, Vanitha Thurairasu

Kesmas

This bibliometric study examined the evolving research landscape on physician mental health from 2010 to 2023, analyzing key themes, publication trends, and global contributions. A total of 3,360 articles, including 3,137 original research and 223 reviews, were sourced from Web of Science and Scopus. Findings revealed a significant increase in research output, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with burnout, depression, and anxiety emerging as dominant themes. The US accounted for most publications, while research from low- and middle-income countries remains limited, indicating a substantial global disparity. Thematic analysis highlighted variations in burnout assessment methodologies, underscoring the need for standardized evaluation …

Determinants Of Adolescent Resilience Levels In Surabaya City, East Java Province, Indonesia, Riris Diana Rachmayanti, Fatwa Sari Tetra Dewi, Diana Setiyawati, M Dody Izhar, Andrei Ramani

Kesmas

Assessing adolescent resilience may provide valuable insights into adult resilience. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between determinants and adolescent resilience in Surabaya City. The participants of this cross-sectional study were 277 adolescents aged 12–19 years who were in senior high school. The outcome was the resilience levels. This study's findings indicated relationships between resilience levels and stress experience (p-value = 0.01), access to mental health information (p-value = 0.00), life satisfaction (p-value = 0.00), family harmony (p-value = 0.03), presence of adults to share (p-value = 0.04), feeling safe at home, school, and community (p-value = 0.00), perception …

Public Health Entrepreneurship In Indonesia: What Is Next?, Hadi Pratomo, Roy Darmawan, Karina Samaria

Kesmas

Public health has been demanded to search for ways to improve well-being by tackling societal and ecological factors that influence health through cooperative strategies and partnerships across various fields. More interdisciplinary, interprofessional, and action-oriented approaches toward sustainable public health programs are recommended to be made. Therefore, public health entrepreneurship is an indispensable approach to creating new interventions that address future public health problems. The Indonesian Ministry of Health conceptualized five public health entrepreneurship skills as standard competence for public health personnel. In addition, the Association of Indonesian Public Health Higher Education Institutions has identified several study materials and learning outcomes …

Perceived Healthfulness Of The Environment Of Communities With Low Income: Focus Groups And Interviews With Extension Nutrition Educators, Elder Garcia Varela, Jamie Zeldman, Jade Mcnamara, Jesse S. Morrell, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Melissa D. Olfert, Tandalayo Kidd, Kendra Kattelmann, Geoffrey Greene, Karla P. Shelnutt, Sarah Colby

Journal of Extension

This study explored Extension nutrition educators’ (NEs) perceptions of community members’ challenges and opportunities for achieving a healthy lifestyle. NEs represented various communities with low income across nine states. NEs across locations identified similar barriers (i.e., lack of access and availability of healthy and affordable foods; access to transportation; and financial insecurity) and opportunities (i.e., trustworthy and free nutrition education resources and programs; and access to food banks, food pantries, and health care professionals) that prevented or facilitated a healthful lifestyle. Future research should explore key community stakeholder and community member perceptions to guide the development of community-driven interventions.

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Self-Management Behavior In Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Control, Fatimah Dwi Cahyani, Shrimarti Rukmini Devy

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

Diabetes mellitus gestasional (DGM) merupakan kondisi kesehatan yang meningkat dalam kehamilan dan dapat menyebabkan komplikasi serius bagi ibu dan janin. Self-management yang mencakup pemahaman, penerapan, dan pemeliharaan perilaku kesehatan memiliki peran kunci dalam mengelola DGM. Health Belief Model (HBM) digunakan sebagai kerangka kerja teoretis yang membentuk dasar intervensi untuk meningkatkan self-efficacy pada ibu hamil dengan GDM. Studi ini menganalisis hubungan antara efikasi diri dan manajemen diri dalam pengendalian diabetes gestasional pada ibu hamil. Artikel ini adalah tinjauan pustaka dengan menerapkan metode pencarian literatur. Pencarian literatur dilaksanakan melalui tiga basis data yaitu PubMed, Scopus, dan Google Scholar, yang mencakup artikel-artikel yang …

Examining The Effects Of A Social Cognitive Intervention Aimed At Promoting Appropriate Antibiotic Use Self-Efficacy, Erin M. Hill, Andriana Frost

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Our goal in this study was to examine the effect of a social cognitive intervention aimed at improving appropriate antibiotic use self-efficacy (AAUSE). The intervention incorporated several aspects of self-efficacy theory, including mastery, vicarious learning, and verbal persuasion. To test the effectiveness of the intervention, we used two comparison conditions—reading a pamphlet focused on antibiotic resistance (ABR) or one focused on general health (diet, physical activity, sleep). A total of 226 undergraduate students completed the study, which involved completing a series of questions/questionnaires at time 1 (preintervention), engaging in the intervention (or reading a pamphlet), and then completing the time …

Investigating Suicide Risk Factors Among Appalachian West Virginian Adults, Erin D. Caswell, Angela M. Dyer, Summer D. Hartley, Caroline P. Groth, Mary Christensen, Sahiti K. Tulabandu, Bryce K. Weaver, Ruchi Bhandari

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Suicide rates in the United States have increased over the past two decades, with rural areas, particularly the Appalachian Region, facing unique challenges that elevate suicide risk. These include economic hardships, social isolation, and limited access to mental health services.

Purpose: This study addresses critical gaps in understanding lifetime suicide risk in West Virginia (WV), a predominantly rural state entirely within the Appalachian Region. By identifying the factors driving urban-rural differences in suicide risk, this research seeks to inform interventions tailored to the state's distinct needs and provide insights applicable to the broader Appalachian Region

Methods: Using 2021 Mountain …

Current Attitudes And Barriers Among Appalachian Patients Towards Orthopaedic Surgery, Dylan Smith Md, Justin B. West Ms, Wade Smith Md, Micah Macaskill Md, Jonathan Lash, Matthew W. Bullock Do, Mpt

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: This study explores the challenges faced by residents of rural West Virginia in accessing orthopaedic care due to geographic and socioeconomic barriers.

Purpose: This study seeks to survey rural West Virginia residents about their attitudes and experiences regarding access to orthopaedic care in southern West Virginia.

Methods: A total of 132 electronic surveys were collected from rural West Virginia residents during an appointment with their primary care provider located at an affiliated outreach clinic. The survey was designed to investigate various factors influencing their access to orthopaedic care.

Results: Delays in seeking orthpaedic care are common in rural West …

The Journal Of Appalachian Health: A Year Of Growth And Impact, Noah Wren, Bradley Firchow, Emily Wilson, Randy Wykoff

Journal of Appalachian Health

The Journal of Appalachian Health continues to grow in strength and reach, serving as a critical platform for research and discussion on the unique health challenges and opportunities in Appalachia, as well as how the challenges and opportunities Appalachia faces are local manifestations of broader regional and global phenomena. Over the past year, we have witnessed a remarkable expansion in our readership, reflecting the increasing demand for evidence-based insights into the health of our region.

Harm Reduction Without Supportive Policing: Experiences Of Drug Users In Nepal, Chandra Jha, Dennis Donovan

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

This study explored the impact of drug criminalization and policing on harm reduction efforts in Nepal. In contexts marked by widespread corruption, drug criminalization often exacerbates the mistreatment by law enforcement of people who use drugs (PWUD), creating substantial barriers to their accessing harm reduction services. Utilizing a constructivist framework and a modified grounded theory approach, we conducted in-depth interviews with 20 PWUD to examine their experiences with drug use, interactions with police, and the consequent effects on harm reduction efforts. Three key themes emerged: the exploitation of PWUD as a significant source of income for corrupt police officers, the …

Greece And Harm Reduction Efficacy, Callie Wagers

Posters-at-the-Capitol

An overview of the significance of harm reduction strategies in public health, highlighting Greece's innovative approaches recognized by the Healthy Cities Award. Harm reduction encompasses a range of policies and programs designed to minimize the negative health and social impacts associated with substance use, emphasizing pragmatic and compassionate solutions rather than punitive measures. Greece's successful initiatives—such as syringe exchange programs, supervised consumption sites, and comprehensive addiction treatment services—serve as a model for addressing public health crises. Kentucky, facing significant challenges related to substance use disorders, can adopt and adapt Greece's harm reduction methods to enhance the well-being of its communities. …

Help-Seeking For Problematic Alcohol Use: Stigma, Shame, & Guilt, Olivia G. Chapell

2025 Honors Symposium

Stigmatization is a prevalent barrier to help-seeking behaviors in problematic alcohol users, especially among college-aged students. By using a cross-sectional electronic survey method, the relationship between personal or immediate family experience with substance-related treatment and perceptions of stigmatization was assessed.

The Role Of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners: Addressing The Shortage And Its Implications For Healthcare, Isabel Mary Mccarthy

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) are registered nurses specifically trained to perform forensic examinations and provide medical and emotional support to sexual assault victims. Many nursing programs lack formal education on SANE practices, which can hinder students' preparedness to address such cases in their future careers.

Method: A mixed-methods, three-phase approach to evaluate the effectiveness of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training module within the Dominican University of California Nursing Program. 40- 60 nursing students will be separated into two separate community health classes with one given module in SANEs nursing and the other not. Both classes …

Vaccines And Publics: A Variety Of Engagement Experiences, David H. Lee

Publications and Research

This chapter is about some of the sites and scenes where members of the public are exposed to (and engage in) vaccination discourse. To preview, after a brief introduction, we begin with messaging models of communication, followed by the move from messaging to engagement. Next, case examples of public engagement with vaccines are introduced, from pandemic influenza preparedness in the U.S., to polio eradication initiatives in India, and then to COVID-19 public engagement events in England. Settings of public engagement are noted, including online, in churches and museums. Then, there’s a section about communication and public participation, seen as either …

Engaging The Community, Providing Hopes, Mackenzie Peeke, Margaret West, Alyssa Wilkinson, Matthew Serrata, Michael Baroody, Conner Tembe, Chrisney Yerena

HOPES Free Clinic Publications

Founded in the 1970s as a grassroots effort to provide care to the underserved population of Hampton Roads, Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) has long been committed to community-centered care. The HOPES Free Clinic is a manifestation of that mission. Launched in 2011 as a student-run phone triage service, the Health Outreach Partnership of EVMS Students (HOPES) later transitioned to provide direct clinical services—becoming the first student-run free clinic in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2014, HOPES integrated into Community Engaged Learning to enhance and solidify its efforts. Since its inception, medical and health professions students have partnered with volunteer …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

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

Masters Theses

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

Investigating The Impact Of Phthalate Exposures From Personal Care Products On Uterine Fibroid Incidence And Prevalence In Us-Born Black Women, Ella Brissett

CMC Senior Theses

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors composed of smooth muscle cells and connective tissue that develop within or on the walls of the uterus. Despite being non-cancerous, they can severely affect quality of life by causing heavy bleeding, chronic pain, and reproductive complications. Fibroids are typically found in women of reproductive age, but they disproportionately affect Black women, who experience higher incidence and severity. The underlying causes of this disparity is poorly understood; however, an emerging body of research is highlighting the role of phthalates, endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in many personal care products, in exacerbating fibroid development. Through a critical analysis …

A Case Study In Program Evaluation: Evaluation Of A Program To Increase Physical Activity, Megan M. Harper

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Public health revolves around 3 core functions: assessment, policy development, and assurance.¹ For public health initiatives to have long-term success, we must determine if the intended effects of those programs are met in the beginning stages of program development and implementation; thus, program evaluation relates to the core function of assessment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a framework to facilitate this process and enable subsequent informed decisions on how to improve public health programs, which relates to policy development.² The CDC framework is comprised of 6 interconnected steps and 4 groups of standards; together, …

Rwanda's Natural Remedies: A Fresh Look At The Fight Against Malaria, Leandre Nsabimana Ndisanze

Pomona Senior Theses

Malaria remains one of the most devastating parasitic diseases globally, disproportionately affecting sub-Saharan Africa, where Rwanda continues to face high transmission rates and rising resistance to conventional interventions. Despite decades of control efforts, the emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum and insecticide-resistant Anopheles mosquitoes threatens to reverse recent gains. This research responds to the urgent need for sustainable and culturally relevant alternatives by exploring the therapeutic potential of Rwandan traditional medicinal plants. These indigenous remedies, long used by local healers, offer an underexplored reservoir of bioactive compounds that may provide the basis for novel antimalarial drugs.

The central hypothesis of this …

Reducing Stress Related To Injection Therapy: A Zen Bundle Approach, Valoree Bowen

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: Needle fear and stress are common barriers preventing adults from seeking necessary medical treatments, including intramuscular (IM) injection therapy. Research highlights the need for evidence-based interventions to mitigate this fear and improve patient experience.

Objective: This evidence-based pilot project included a Zen Bundle—an intervention incorporating shared decision-making, aromatherapy, and distraction—to evaluate the impact on stress reduction and patient satisfaction in a retail vitamin shop in North Texas.

Methods: The project utilized a pre-and post-intervention design over eight weeks. Participants completed pre-surveys assessing stress levels using a Visual Analog Scale before choosing an intervention (aromatherapy, distraction, or both) during IM …

“Promoting Safe Firearm Storage Through Media-Based Interventions”, Abigali Bordelon

2025 Honors Symposium

Although often underrepresented in public discussions of gun violence in the United States, unintentional pediatric shootings contributed to the ongoing gun violence endemic. These shootings routinely share characteristics which make them an ideal target for public health and injury prevention efforts. As individual's often learn about unintentional pediatric shootings and form opinions based on media reports of these incidents, it is crucial that we explore how the mainstream media is framing these events and what must be changed in order to better support prevention efforts. This project examines safe firearm storage patterns and attitudes within the U.S. and mainstream media …

Smart Goal-Setting On Behaviors To Enhance Intrinsic Motivation For Exercise: A Pilot Study With Orangetheory Fitness Participants, Adam Relitz

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Abstract

PURPOSE: Sustaining long-term motivation for exercise remains a challenge within health and fitness, particularly when extrinsic factors like weight loss dominate motivational strategies. This study investigates the role of behavioral SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goal-setting in fostering intrinsic motivation, a self-driven form of engagement, among participants in a structured fitness program. The primary aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a SMART goal-setting curriculum in promoting intrinsic motivation and behavior-based goals over external outcomes like losing weight. METHODS: Participants (N = 24) were recruited from a fitness challenge program and selected one behavioral SMART goal from a …