Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Nurturing Beginnings, Madison K. Hanson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Early intervention for postpartum mothers and their infants plays a critical role in supporting long-term health outcomes for both members of the dyad. Maternal well-being is closely linked to a child’s development, and challenges such as stress, physical changes, and undiagnosed postpartum depression can disrupt bonding, parenting, and early skill development. Because the transition to motherhood is complex, consistent support and interventions are essential for both mom and baby. Strengthening public education and improving developmental screening practices can help ensure mothers and infants are receiving needed support early in life. Nurturing Beginnings worked to bridge the service gaps between healthcare …

Decision-Making At The Edges Of Capacity: Brain Science And Caregiving, Dr. Julie Yonker

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Keynote address at the Disabilities Resources Symposium at City Hope Church in Grand Rapids on 3/14/2026. Attached is her powerpoint.

• Describe why our brains don’t like decisions
• Understand the impact of different types of decisions
• Value suggestions for more sustained decision making
• Consider a faith perspective

Maternal Physical And Mental Health In The State Of South Carolina: Creating High-Quality Educational Materials, Elizabeth Chard

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

This capstone project, in collaboration with the Empowering Moms team at the Medical University of South Carolina, aimed to establish the foundation for a statewide occupational therapy initiative focused on maternal mental and physical health education as a preventative approach to addressing rising maternal mortality rates. The project involved assessing the needs of mothers, developing evidence-based educational materials, and compiling a comprehensive resource list to enhance access to information for mothers and community health partners (CHPs) across South Carolina. To support this initiative, a website and REDCap surveys were created to facilitate information dissemination and track outcomes. Embedded within the …

Coronary Artery Disease – Future Tools For Optimizing Primary Prevention, Nick Makosiej

Capstone Showcase

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a progressive, obstructive, and inflammatory process affecting the endothelial lining of the coronary arteries, which ultimately compromises the perfusion of the myocardium and can lead to ischemic infarction. This narrowing of vasculature which supplies the myocardial tissue leads to a spectrum of anginal syndromes and inevitably, catastrophic consequences. This article is focused on understanding the pathophysiology of this disease process and educating providers on emerging clinical tools that can be utilized to prevent progression, and ultimately reduce morbidity and mortality of this insidious disease process.

Let's Talk About Sex & Prep: District 2 Does!, Chrissa M. Shaffer

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Defining what a PrEP Service Program entails and how it could benefit your district or county health center. Discussing methods that have been used to set up PrEP Services within a district – including training, resources, and promotion. Identifying the challenges and working through them. Reviewing the results of the PrEP Services over the past year, and the ongoing goals to encourage and increase our PrEP Services.

A Novel Approach To Hiv Testing: Group Harm Reduction And Testing For High Risk Women In Nj, Gabrianna A. Andrews

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Outreach programs have been implemented aimed at providing healthcare to minority populations and those considered high-risk for acquiring HIV. Variables such as these cause hesitance in community members, preventing HIV screenings and adherence to follow-ups. This study provides and evaluates a new approach: group HIV testing. Data was collected from 6/2/2023 to 4/19/2024 by surveying participants at the end of the interaction. 87.5% of participants rated their care at the mobile clinic as ‘Excellent’, 8% as ‘Very Good’, and 4.5% as ‘Good’. 95.6% of participants ranked Group Harm Reduction Counseling as ‘Definitely’ helpful. 84.4% of participants did not find that …

Stopping The Bleed At Uri, Emily Lefebre

Senior Honors Projects

The number one cause of preventable death is uncontrolled bleeding from traumatic injury. From the unlikely scenario of a school shooting, to a campus car accident or an injury during a sports or club event, possessing skills to effectively stop a life-threatening bleed becomes a matter of life or death. The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT) STOP THE BLEED® program is a campaign to teach communities how to respond effectively and efficiently to life-threatening bleeding in emergencies. STOP THE BLEED® aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills to stop severe bleeding by tourniquet application, …

Social Influences On Quitting E-Cigarette Use: A Mixed Method Analysis, Olivia Peterson, Page Dobbs

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social Influences on Quitting E-Cigarette Use: A Mixed Method Analysis

Page Dobbs, Olivia Peterson, Erin Arthur, Jessica Seymore, Jenn Veilleux, Robert Davis, Mance Buttram, Mufazzela Tabassum

Words: 250/250

Introduction. Young adult e-cigarette users report peers as a reason for using these products; however, it is unclear how social influences are associated with attempting to quit e-cigarettes. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine the relationship between social factors and quitting e-cigarettes.

Methods. E-cigarette users from a large southern university were recruited to take part in an explanatory, sequential mixed-methods study. First, participants (n=423) completed a cross-sectional survey about …

Distraction Culture: The Origin Story Of Notification Stress, Benedicte Kalonda

Symposium of Student Scholars

Long gone are the days when procrastination was the sole culprit of poor productivity through the chronic delay of task completion, which has also been linked to a range of stress-related health problems (e.g., headaches, digestive issues, and insomnia). Today’s culture has given rise to the phenomenon of pre-crastination, whereby a technological notification demands and receives immediate attention despite its level of urgency. This propensity to abandon flow and groove is becoming normalized, and the public health impact is currently unknown.

These notifications, a seemingly benign cost of technological advances, are setting the stage for a new level of stressor …

Early Onset Colorectal Cancer: Research, Trends & Challenges, Sarah E. Smith

Capstone Showcase

Early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) incidence and mortality are rising in a global trend, contrasting with improvements seen in late-onset colorectal cancer (LOCRC). EOCRC appears to differ in presentation, histology, and pathology from LOCRC painting concerns of a more aggressive tumor profile. With incidence steadily climbing, there is still lacking awareness and guidance on screening for EOCRC. This article aims to provide background on EOCRC including epidemiology, risk factors, and traits, as well as to explore methods for adjusting provider screening criteria to combat this concerning trend.

The Effects Of Mental Health And Burnout In Medicine In Relation To The Wilson Model Of Leadership, Kevin Beck

Senior Honors Projects

The purpose of this project is to determine the effects that burnout and poor mental health can have on the ability of health care professionals to effectively do their job and lead others in medicine. Burnout, as defined by Merriam Webster, is “the exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.” This is a self-reported quantitative study analyzing information acquired via a survey to determine if there is a relation to burnout and poor mental health in medicine and the ability to effectively lead others and complete work tasks and this …

The Invisible Epidemic: A Concussion Assessment Among University Faculty And Staff, Emily R. Brown, Jacqueline D. Villanueva Arevalo

Student Scholar Showcase

Background: The present body of research is deficient, and institutions frequently lack defined return-to-learn policies for students who have incurred or been diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)/concussion.

Purpose: This research study aims to determine the level of knowledge and awareness university faculty and staff currently have at a private university in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Participants: 64 collegiate faculty and academic staff

Methods: A Cross-sectional, web-based Faculty and Staff Concussion Awareness and Knowledge survey was completed by participants, consisting of 9 demographic, 21 Likert Scale, and 1 multiple-option question.

Results: Initial descriptive and frequency statistics of the 64 …

Engaging Youth In The Development, Implementation, An Evaluation Of Sexual And Reproductive Health Programs, Pam Drake, Kristin Kennedy

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This session will introduce the use of a group concept mapping process to create a conceptual model for engaging youth in sexual and reproductive health programming – particularly BIPOC LGBTQ+ youth and young men of color. We will walk through the gcm process, present the model, and explore ways to apply the model in various situations.

Efficacy Of Osteoporosis Education In Rural Populations, Mindy Cook, Jaden Arnold, Hannah Berhow, Rebekah Hans, Bivash Neupane, Alizon Pachas, Andrea Pham, Holly Radke, Mitchell Rush, Emily Schwartz, Hunter Stutz, Darell Schmick, David Sant Phd, Erika Noonan Md

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Post-Partum Depression (Ppd) Screening Tools Effectiveness In Refugee Populations, Joshua Jensen

Annual Research Symposium

Purpose:

Immigrant mothers check all the boxes that are significant risk factors for developing or exacerbating Postpartum Depression (PPD). These risk factors include, suffering in solitude, cultural conceptualizations, barriers to help seeking, and a lack of facilitators to help seeking. Despite this very little research has been done to find effective screening methods for this population.

The purpose of this research project is to compile the works of those before me to determine whether the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression or the PHQ 9 screening tool is the most effective for immigrant mothers.

Methods:

Research determining the effectivity of the two tests …

Early Marriage And Reproductive Health Outcomes Among Women In South Asia, Sameen Kazmi

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Peer Deviance As A Predictor Of E-Cigarette Use Pre And Post Pandemic, Jenna Dunham, Heather Kissel, Ty Brumback

Posters-at-the-Capitol

There is growing concern regarding the use of e-cigarettes among younger demographics. Also known as vaping, e-cigarettes have been posited as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes and have increased in popularity due to marketing, added flavors, and discreet delivery methods (Durkin et al., 2021; Hart et al., 2017). Research has shown dangerous and adverse outcomes of using e-cigarettes, including mood disorders, attention deficit, addiction, and lung injury (Durkin et al., 2021; Krishnasamy et al., 2020).

Peer group deviance is associated with risky external behaviors in young adults and youth (Durkin et al., 2021; Kendler et al., 2016). This research …

Belonging, A Photovoice Project, Lauir Deruiter-Willems, Nikki Hillier, Misty Rhoads, Amanda Harvey

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

This project was designed to advance our understanding of college students’ knowledge of health and barriers to wellness by using the Photovoice concepts. The components included:

•pictures

•stories

•expository writings

The instructions

• asked students to focus on inclusion, equality, & visibility

• required self-reflection

• engaged students in discussions

• explored Social Determinants of Health in community settings.

Recommendations For Providers To Improve Quality Of Care & Health Outcomes For Patients With Tick-Borne Diseases, Kayla G. Hugate, Jennifer Hall

Student Scholar Showcase

Background: Healthcare providers lack knowledge about tick-borne diseases related to recognition, diagnosis, treatments, and communication. With the number of ticks and types of tick-borne diseases increasing, it is vital that providers know how to effectively diagnose, manage and treat a TBD patient.

Methods: A mixed method survey was implemented in 2021 with persons diagnosed with a tick-borne disease to explore their experiences with diagnosis, management and treatment. The survey was posted on TBD social media pages and sent through email snowballing. Thematic analysis was used to code results from three open-ended questions.

Results: A total of 434 …

Implementation Of Community-Based Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Program For Youth With Complex Trauma, Vira Salzburn, Kierstin Graham

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This presentation will discuss the implementation and scale-up of an evidence-based Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY) program as a part of a larger community-wide safety and resilience-building effort. It will explain the effectiveness of TSY interventions for both clinical and non-clinical populations and highlight the physical, mental, emotional, and social benefits of a modified yoga practice for youth and young adults with complex trauma.

Ingredient Classification Using Food Ontology, Ricky Flores

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

A food label provides some of the most crucial information for a food product. The food label is a key resource for many health-conscious consumers for understanding ingredients. It is also vital for individuals to avoid food allergens or help patients follow dietary recommendations. While the food labels in the United States are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) many labels contain additional information or statements that are not regulated. Moreover, the food label may be complex or contain terminology that the layperson may not understand. Evidence has indicated that consumers often find nutrition labels confusing, especially when …

Four Corners: A Values Clarification Exercise, Montsine Nshom

Open Educational Resources

Four Corners is a values clarification activity that asks participants to stand/show whether they strongly agree to strongly disagree with a specific statement, and reflect on their position during and after the activity. This four corners activity is designed to help students think about and discuss topics that are pertinent to urban community health and public health.

No prior reading or coursework is required; it is a good option for the first day of class to introduce key themes that will be covered during the course as well as practice ground rules and class discussion norms.

Demographic Analysis Of African Americans Enrolled In A Community-Based Diabetes Prevention Program, Kennedy Palmer, Lovoria B. Williams, Hannah Bowman

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is preventable. While all racial and ethnic groups are susceptible to the condition, African Americans (AAs) are among the groups with the highest T2D prevalence (13.3%:9.4 %) among their white counterparts. Lifestyle interventions, such as the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) effectively decrease incident diabetes by 58%. Moreover, evidence indicates that culturally adapted health interventions enhance subject participation and increase adherence to lifestyle programs. The purpose of this project is to examine the baseline demographics of AA participants of Fit & Faithful, a culturally adapted DPP. Fit & Faithful concentrates on the prominent religious aspect of AA …

Mental Health Training, Adrienne Leonard, Seanghai Lim, Emma Booth, Jaeger Mccaulou, Saori Fukuoka

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

New Horizons is a Seattle-based non-profit organization that serves to aid homeless youth in the greater Seattle area, with an end goal of ending youth homelessness in Seattle and King County. New Horizons has been operating since 1978 and has reached out to homeless youth of all different backgrounds in order to meet their basic needs and help transition them into a stable living environment. (New Horizons, 2016). This type of work requires staff and volunteers to be able to accommodate a wide range of cultural backgrounds, lifestyle habits, and crucially, individuals with differing mental health states and disabilities. …

Communication Plan To Raise Awareness For Dementia And Promote Caring Closet, Aishwarya Potluri, Prachi Joshi

Eagle Showcase: Excellence in Service-Learning

This poster was designed to communicate the products developed for Rockin'Out Alzheimer’s, an organization to help caregivers in providing everyday essentials for at-home dementia patients, in Statesboro, GA.

The authors collaborated with the organization and helped to develop communication materials for their program -"Caring Closet" which was aimed at providing diapers, bed-pads, barrier creams and other necessary items to qualified individuals suffering with dementia. The authors helped to set up a webpage, a Facebook page and design an infographic for "Caring Closet" and helped communicate about the program in the community. The end results were then compiled and presented in …

Pornography: Social, Emotional And Mental Implications Among Adolescents, William Kelly Canady

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This presentation will explain the historical development of pornography. It will highlight four segments: 1- Porn’s impact on brain development of reward pathways, ultimately increasing the appetite for more porn. 2- Porn can be a false substitute for real intimacy, resulting in decreased sexual satisfaction with a real person and increased verbal and physical aggression. 3- Porn promotes sex trafficking, promotes multiple sex partners and reduced STD prevention. 4- A review of interventions available to assist clients in navigating a lifestyle away from pornography.

Epi-Pens: Honors Capstone Enhancement, Chelsey Boecker

Honors Capstone Enhancement Presentations

No abstract provided.

Pharmacist-Prescribed Birth Control: A Policy Analysis, Brianna Full

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Although unintended pregnancy in the United States has steadily decreased from 2008, rates are still unacceptably high as almost half (42%) of all pregnancies are not wanted or timed correctly (Finer & Zolna). In 2011, 2.8 million of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the United States each year were unintended. Public health professionals are worried about unintended pregnancy because research shows that unwanted or mistimed pregnancies come with associations to adverse maternal and child health outcomes, such as delayed prenatal care, premature birth, and negative physical and mental health effects for children (Frost, Frohwirth & Zolna, 2016). Also, two-thirds (68%) …

Bout Vs. Non-Bout Physical Activity Minutes As Predictors Of Waist Circumference In College Students, Valerie Olijar, Matt Scott, Brooke Ferraro, Elizabeth Edwards, Trent Hargens

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

Physical activity recommendations to reduce all cause mortality consist of 10 minute bouts of a moderate-vigorous intensity, for a total of 150 min/week. This study investigates if those 10 minute bouts really matter. We found that step count was the best predictor of waist circumference. This finding supports many new technological devices that use step counts as a form of measuring activity. It provides support that the more steps you take, the likelier you will have a small waist.

Barriers That Restrict Health Care Access For The Deaf Community And Interventions For Improved Patient Quality Care, Jacqueline Meraz

Grace Peterson Nursing Research Colloquium

Background: Deaf patients have lower levels of health literacy, given less health prevention, more likely to engage in harmful behaviors, and had higher rates of health disparities compared to the hearing population. Deaf people avoid healthcare because of their distrust of healthcare providers, and their previous negative experiences regarding communication issues. Barriers that restrict health care and proposed interventions were studied regarding the deaf patient population to account for these disparities.

Objectives: The purpose of this literature review is to identify barriers that deaf patients face when seeking healthcare and was framed using the Cultural Care Theory.

Method: An integrative …