Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Improving Public Health Readiness For Sea Level Rise: A New Initiative In Coastal Virginia, Steven M. Becker

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Sea level has been rising around the world, and in recent decades, the rate has been accelerating. Because rising seas have the potential to directly or indirectly affect the health of vast numbers of coastal communities and inhabitants, public health agencies and professionals—in conjunction with other fields—have a pivotal role to play in helping to protect populations, reduce and prevent health impacts, and foster resilience. This article discusses a novel effort that has been undertaken in Coastal Virginia to help prepare the next generation of public health professionals to grapple with sea level rise issues. The effort grew out of …

Making A Global Impact One Vaccine At A Time, Janice E. Hawkins, Deborah C. Gray

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

(First paragraph) Did you know that, worldwide, almost one third of deaths among children under age 5 can be prevented by vaccines? It's stunning to think that one child dies every 20 seconds from an immunization-preventable disease. That equates to 12 lives that could be saved in the time it takes to read this brief article!

Predictors Of Medical Students’ Attitudes Towards Abortion And Their Changes Overtime, Rebecca Elizabeth Morales

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

As new legislation is regularly being introduced to minimize Roe v. Wade’s protection of women’s right to choose in a medical setting, it is imperative to study what predictors may have an impact on abortion attitudes within the demographic of medical students, as well as how these predictors impact one’s willingness to provide the service in the future. The current study then, uses data collected in 2000 and 2015 from a medical school located in Virginia, and in collaboration with a research university in the state to examine what factors are associated with a willingness to provide an abortion, as …

Effects Of A Unilateral Strength And Plyometric Training Program For Division I Soccer Players, Eric Potter

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The current thesis examined the effects of a unilateral strength and plyometric program on power (bilateral and unilateral vertical jumps), speed (20 meter sprint), and agility (Agility T- Test) in collegiate soccer players compared to a traditional bilateral-based training program. Due to the fact that a majority of the research on performance variables in athletes is done using bilateral lifting and plyometric programs, yet most movements in field sports such as sprinting and changing direction are unilateral-based, this specific topic could have value for enhanced performance for athletic populations. The participants included 34 male and female Division-I soccer players who …

Protective Factors Against Peer And Social Media Sex Messages: The Moderating Role Of Parental Influences On African American Emerging Adult Students' Sexual Behaviors, Jacqueline Eunice Haywood

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The most recent research on risky sexual behaviors is primarily based on adolescent, predominately White, or multiple race (e.g., African American and White) samples. There is a paucity of literature focused exclusively on African Americans, particularly African American emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 25. Given the increased risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for college aged African Americans, it is important to understand factors that may decrease engaging in risky sexual behaviors that are specific to this group. The current study examined the roles of parental warmth and communication about sex as protective factors. Participants (n = …

Utilizing The Technology Acceptance Model To Predict System Use Of An Interactive Behavior Change Technology To Deliver Virtual Diabetes Health Education, Koren Sher'keyer Goodman

Health Services Research Dissertations

Diabetes is expected to affect more than 21% of the U.S. adult population by the year 2050 (Boyle, Thompson, Gregg, Barker, & Williamson, 2010). What is important to understand about diabetes is that there are safe, effective non-pharmaceutical lifestyle modifications and pharmaceutical treatment options that can prevent and delay the onset of complications. Telehealth efforts are practical solutions increasingly used in the health services delivery model to improve self-care management practices among patients with multiple chronic conditions (Davis, Hitch, Salaam, Herman, Zimmer-Galler, & Mayer-Davis, 2010; Eng, Gustafson, Henderson, Jimison, & Patrick, 1999; Fitzner & Moss, 2013; Gruman, 2011; Lin, 1999; …

An Exploratory Study Of Generational Differences In Health Information Seeking And Smoking Behaviors In Bulgaria, Iva Stoyneva

Communication & Theatre Arts Theses

Smoking is a serious global public health threat that causes more than 6 million deaths annually (WHO, 2013). Smoking is also the single, most preventable cause of death (CDC, 2014). According to a recent study, Bulgaria was ranked as one of onlyl 1 countries in the world, in which half of the adult male population smokes, as well as one of 11 countries in which more than one-quarter of the adult female population smokes. Research suggests that the most significant predictors of smoking behavior in Bulgaria were age and geographic location (Balabanova, Bobak & McKee, 1998). Contributing to these finings, …

Using Sensewear Armband And Diet Journal To Promote Adolescents' Energy Balance Knowledge And Motivation, Senlin Chen, Xihe Zhu, Gregory J. Welk, Youngwon Kim, Jungmin Lee, Nathan F. Meier

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Purpose: Educating adolescents about energy balance (EB) is essential for effective weight control. This study utilized the Sensewear (SWA) armband and a diet journal to promote adolescents' EB knowledge and motivation.

Methods: Ninety sixth graders were randomly assigned into the experimental group (n = 46) who utilized SWA and diet journal for 7 consecutive days or the control group (n = 44) who did not. Both groups were pre-and post-measured on EB knowledge, situational interest, and weight. The experimental group was tracked on motivation effort, energy expenditure (EE), and energy intake (EI).

Results: EB knowledge significantly increased and situational interest …

Physician As Teacher: Promoting Health And Wellness Among Elementary School Students, Jill E. Stefaniak, Victoria C. Lucia

STEMPS Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Every day, physicians engage in teaching during their patient encounters. It may be that medical students who are introduced to the principles of teaching and learning are more likely to become good communicators and learners. Service-learning may be an effective way for medical students to practice skills in teaching and communication in a real-world setting, while also filling a need within the community. The purpose of this study was to identify common themes within medical students' reflections on what they learned through participating in a teaching exercise with local elementary school children.

METHODS: As a required component of a …

Urban Adventure Racing: Using Grounded Theory To Assess Motives, Eddie Hill, Edwin Gómez, Brandi Brinkley, Marni Goldenberg

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Although urban adventure races (ARs) have grown in popularity, little research exists on the reasons for the rising interest. Typically, adventure races are defined as a series of outdoor tasks completed within a given course or timeframe that are meant to challenge individuals, both mentally and physically. ARs borrow much from adventure programming. Aspects of AR programming may include goal-setting, problem-solving activities, and processing, and is often theoretically driven. This study used Grounded Theory as a basis for exploring why participants choose ARs, and if motives vary by gender. Of the 60 questionnaires collected, 40 were suitable for data analysis. …

Increasing The Use Of Booster Seats: A Community-Based Research Project, Michelle Gallina, Amanda Jones, Jane Kim, Habibullah Muhiddin, Natasha Singletary

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

The aim of this project was to increase booster seat usage and knowledge of booster seat safety by implementing population-based interventions in the community. To aid in accomplishing the goal, the nursing students utilized the performance of an educational puppet show, educational handouts, and aggregate height and age screening as the interventions. Pre and post tests data were obtained. As a result, there was an increase of the aggregates‟ desire to be in a booster seat. Nurses who take more action in a leadership role by implementing interventions based on the educational needs of the community increased booster seat awareness. …

Taking Be Proud! Be Responsible! To The Suburbs: A Replication Study, Elaine A. Borawski, Erika S. Trapl, Kimberly Adams-Tufts, Laura L. Hayman, Merdith A. Goodwin, Loren D. Lovegreen

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

CONTEXT: An important phase of HIV prevention research is replicating successful interventions with different groups and in different settings.

METHODS: Be Proud! Be Responsible!, a successful intervention originally targeting black urban males and carried out in nonschool settings, was presented in health classes at urban and suburban schools with diverse student bodies. A group-randomized intervention study, which included 1,357 ninth and 10th graders from 10 paired schools in a Midwestern metropolitan area, was conducted in 2000-2002. Half the schools received the intervention, and half received a general health promotion program. Students' reports of their sexual behavior and selected cognitive mediators …

A Qualitative Review Of The Native American Caregivers Support Program: The Successes, Barriers, And Training Needs, Holly A. Beard, M. Yvonne Jackson, Meg Graves, Floyd Godfrey, Clare Houseman

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Caregiving is accepted as a natural part of life and is recognized as an inherent responsibility within the American Indian/Alaskan Native Community. A qualitative analysis was conducted employing constant comparative method to explain the current status of the Native American Caregiver Support Program (NACSP) funded by Title VI-C grants. The NACSP (Title VI-C) of the Older Americans Act (OAA) is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration on Aging (AoA). The NACSP allows each tribal organization to develop a program to deliver supportive services that are tailored to the needs of their caregiver's while providing five …

The Effects Of A Maternal Childhood Lead-Poisoning Education Program On Knowledge, Health Beliefs, And Compliance, Sylvia Elaine Johnson

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of two educational intervention methods on participant's knowledge, health beliefs and prevention behavior as they relate to childhood lead poisoning. The two educational methods being used in the study are personal instruction by the investigator and a 12-minute video developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics on childhood lead poisoning. Information contained in both educational tools is identical. In particular, this study seeks to determine if one educational intervention was more effective than the other. The final purpose of the study is to test the Health Belief Model by examining …

An Assessment Of Food Sanitation Knowledge And Practice Of Restaurant Workers In Taichung City, Taiwan, Shiow-Fu Sheu

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Taichung city is located in the western middle part of Taiwan, with a population of nearly 800,000. The total number of food service establishments in Taichung City is more than 10,000. Among these, nearly 2000 of the food establishments are considered restaurants. For such a large number of restaurants, the total number of food sanitation inspectors is 16. In order to overcome the shortage of the food inspector manpower problem, Taichung City Health Department has set up a "Food Sanitation Self-inspection Program", in an effort to encourage the restaurants to direct more attention to food sanitation problems. In the meantime, …

Identification And Ranking Of Stressors Specific To The Acute Head Care Nurse, Joan A. Breen

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of Selected Family Life Education Curricula, Phoebe Terry Butler

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the content of family life education curricula in Virginia's public schools and determine its appropriateness for the mentally handicapped students. It was the intent of this study to determine if existing curricula were designed to address the needs of mentally handicapped students according to a standard curricula designed by the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation and the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States. The 15 participants of this study were selected from a random sample of 69. The response rate was 20.2%.

A letter soliciting family …

Reliability Of Q-Angle Measurement, Elisabeth Ann Grusheski

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Various methods of measuring the Q-angle are reported in the literature. The reliability of these measurement methods has not been established. The purpose of this study was to examine the intra- and inter-tester reliability of a method for measuring the Q-angle using a goniometer. The measurement method was performed on 40 normal, healthy subjects who volunteered to participate in the study. There were 27 female subjects and 13 male subjects.

Two physical therapists (Tester 1 and Tester 2) took repeated Q-angle measurements. Measurements were taken on the same day with an interval of five to 10 minutes between measurements. Measurements …

An Analysis And Evaluation On Printed Materials Used In Genetic Counseling, Janet L. Macarthur

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine printed educational materials on five specific genetic disabilities and evaluate them for appropriateness of reading level and for inclusion of several specific issues related to the adequacy of the literature. Publicly available literature was analyzed using the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Formula and content analysis to estimate readability and to test for the presence of a definition of the disorder, a description of the basic genetics of the disorder and its symptomology, references to support groups and references for further information.

The data indicate that a definition of the disorder was included in 85% …

The Relationship Between Multiple Health Factors, Demographics, And Body Weight, Glenda J. Potter

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to test the relationship between regular aerobic exercise and body weight. It was the intent of this study to determine if a person who regularly exercises at either high or moderate levels can maintain their body weight at desired levels as specified by the Body Mass Index (BMI). The participants in this study were selected from hospital employees, class members of aerobic classes and/or adult walkers/joggers. There were 38 participants-- 13 males and 25 females.

A self administered questionnaire and a 3-day, 24-hour dietary log were identified to comprise the instrument as well as …

An Analysis Of A Sample Of Parents And University Freshmen In Regard To Their Attitudes Toward The Needs Of Sex Education In Community Schools, Linda C. Aleksa

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

This study attempted to investigate a sample of both parents' and college freshmens' attitudes toward sex education, and the content and timing of sex education in the Tidewater schools. Two Likert-type scales each containing ten statements were administered in order to survey attitudes. A statistically significant difference was found in scores on the attitude toward content and timing of sex education scale between parents and college freshmen. Parents demonstrated a more favorable attitude toward sex education as an integral component of the overall educational curriculum. The majority of parents indicated support for including important aspects such as reproduction and indicated …

Evaluation Of The Impact Of A Health Education Program On The Rate Of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections In A Selected Female Outpatient Population, Lo Lumsden

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The present study attempted to assess the impact of a health education program focused on those preventive measures or avoidance behaviors an individual could incorporate. into daily living to reduce the incidence of urinary tract . infections. An experimental group, consisting of seventeen volunteers was exposed to a health. education program, and then compared to a seventeen member control group. A statistically significant reduction in the incidence of cystitis, occurred within the experimental group after health education intervention. The results were not statistically significant when the experimental post-test was compared with the control post-test.