Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

A Pilot Study Of Arsenic In Young Children From Two Rural West Texas Communities: Blood Levels, Household Water Levels, And Behavioral Outcomes, Michelle Del Rio

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background & Significance: Heavy metals have been identified as a child health hazard because children are highly vulnerable to the effects of exposure, which can be physical, cognitive, and behavioral. Levels of arsenic (As) greater than the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (10μg/L) were identified in some household water samples in two rural west Texas communities located within 20 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border by a Health Impact Assessment conducted in 2013 (Hargrove, Juarez-Carillo, & Korc 2015). Whether home water samples predicted child blood As levels needed to be examined. Since lead (Pb) is another common heavy metal contaminant in the …

Designing For Dissemination: Lessons In Message Design From "1-2-3 Pap", Elisia L. Cohen, Katharine J. Head, Margaret J. Mcgladrey, Anna G. Hoover, Robin C. Vanderpool, Colleen Bridger, Angela Carman, Richard A. Crosby, Elaine Darling, Mary Tucker-Mclaughlin, Nancy Winterbauer

Communication Faculty Publications

Despite a large number of evidence-based health communication interventions tested in private, public, and community health settings, there is a dearth of research on successful secondary dissemination of these interventions to other audiences. This article presents the case study of "1-2-3 Pap," a health communication intervention to improve human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake and Pap testing outcomes in Eastern Kentucky, and explores strategies used to disseminate this intervention to other populations in Kentucky, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Through this dissemination project, we identified several health communication intervention design considerations that facilitated our successful dissemination to these other audiences; these …

10 Steps To Increase Provider Participation In Medicaid/Streamline Administration, American Dental Association

Action for Dental Health

No abstract provided.

Sample Interview Advisory, American Dental Association

Action for Dental Health

No abstract provided.

10 Steps To An Er Dental Referral Program — Wisconsin Case Study, American Dental Association

Action for Dental Health

No abstract provided.

The Association Between Dietary Sodium, Salt, And Elevated Blood Pressure Among Hispanic Adults In El Paso, Texas, Cynthia Chacon

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: High blood pressure (hypertension) is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) which represents a worldwide public health concern, and continues to be the number one cause of death among both men and women affecting 1 out of 3 adults in the United States. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that high levels of dietary sodium and salt consumption intake can not only increase an individual's blood pressure level, but also their risk for CVD, heart attack, or stroke. Objective: To conduct a secondary data analysis to assess the association between sodium and salt intake and blood pressure among Hispanic …

'Makin' It Out': The Cost Of Dropping Out Of High School On The Health Status Of Afro-American Women In Urban Slums, Sesa E. Bakenra-Tikande

CMC Senior Theses

“We carry our histories in our bodies, how could we not?” – Nancy Krieger

In the United States and abroad, socioeconomic status (income, education, and occupation) greatly impacts health outcomes for a given population. There is a strong and consistent socioeconomic gradient within health outcomes which has been documented as far back as in Ancient Egypt and China (Krieger, Willains, & Moss, 1997; Liberatos, Link, & Kelsey, 1988) The general trend shows that individuals with higher socioeconomic status generally enjoy lower rates of morbidity (disease) and disability, which can ultimately lead to higher mortality rates (House et al. (1992) and …

Health Literacy Proficiency, Sources Of Health Information, And Perceived Barriers To Health Literacy Among Selected Members Of The Hmong Community In Minnesota, Amanda Vang

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine health literacy proficiency, sources of health information, and perceived barriers to health literacy among selected members of the Hmong community in Minnesota. Data for this cross-sectional study were collected using the Short Assessment on Health Literacy-English (SAHL-E) screening tool and a questionnaire. The SAHL-E screening tool and a questionnaire were distributed to 40 Hmong residents in the St. Paul/Minneapolis in Minnesota. When combining the numbers of health literacy scores, a mean of 15.5 was reported. The overall findings of this research assessed that the Hmong community in Minnesota has adequate health literacy …

Jessie Huey Laurence Papers - Accession 5, Jessie Huey Laurence

Manuscript Collection

The Jessie Huey Laurence Papers primarily consist of correspondence, but also included are speeches, program notes, minutes, financial records, photographs, clippings, and scrapbooks relating to her role in the South Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs (1928-1937); her promotion of a compulsory school attendance bill for South Carolina (1934-1936); the formation of the South Carolina Council for the Common Good (1935); Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Public Works Administration (PWA) projects in South Carolina; and her interest in the Catawba Indians of York County, as chairman of Indian Affairs Committee for the Catawba Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. …

A Phenomenological Inquiry Into The Low Rates Of Influenza Vaccination Among Older African Americans, Delia Roxanne Howson-Santana

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Influenza vaccination is recommended for persons with high-risk health conditions such as chronic diseases to prevent flu-related complications and death. African Americans 65 years and older have consistently been reported to have the lowest influenza vaccination rates compared to all other racial groups, despite having higher rates of chronic diseases. A review of the literature indicated that there is a dearth of qualitative studies examining the grounds for these low rates. In this study, 15 African Americans 65 years and older were interviewed to explore the factors that contribute to low rates of flu vaccination among this racial group. Research …

Alternative Therapy For Sickle Cell Disease, Huda Alsultan

Graduate Research Papers

Sickle cell disease can lead to serious complications, such as stroke, acute chest syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, organ damage, blindness, skin ulcers, gallstones and priapism. Additionally, patients with sickle cell disease usually have several pain crises during the year, which means they have to be admitted to the hospital a couple days or weeks in order to treat these crises by pain relievers through IV line or veins. This necessitates quite often that the patient would be absent from their jobs or schools. Frequent absences may cause people with sickle cell disease to experience stress which in turn leads to a …

United States Food Insecurity And The Need For Improved Nutrition And Additional Nutrition Education In Local Food Assistance Programs, Carissa Hohider, Elizabeth Sain

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Nutrition Educational Programming: An Added Step In The Integrated Healing Process Of The Residents Of The Battered Women's Shelter, Annalise Friend

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This honors project began as a conversation to explore the feasibility of including nutrition education into the health and wellness programming offered at the Battered Women’s Shelter of Summit and Medina Counties. As this population of women has unique needs and health concerns specifically associated with recovery from domestic violence, before planning for what nutrition education may be appropriate to implement, it is first necessary to explore the literature that discusses the health and nutritional needs of this population. Unfortunately, there is not a substantial amount of research available that examines this question, so there is still a lot left …

Invest In Urban Youth Sexual And Reproductive Health To Achieve A Demographic Dividend In Africa, Joyce Mumah, Jessica Brinton, Carol Mukiira, Caroline W. Kabiru, Chimaraoke O. Izugbara

Reproductive Health

The future of Africa depends on its ability to harness the potential of its young people. Making the right investments in youth—particularly those in urban areas—can enable the region to experience substantial economic growth and sustainable national development for current and future generations. This policy brief reports on a number of recommendations to help African governments and Ministries of Health and Education realize the demographic dividend; incorporate economic empowerment programs into urban programming and budget allocation; integrate training on the provision of quality and effective youth-friendly services for health workers; and revitalize school health programming.

The Role Of Kentucky State-Supported Postsecondary Education In Creating A Healthier Citizenship, Julia K. Buchanan

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Citizens within the United States of America (USA) and the Commonwealth of Kentucky exhibit indicators of lessened health status in a variety of areas. Many chronic diseases and conditions are due to individual lifestyle behaviors, which can be modified through the implementation of dedicated health and wellness programming. Such programs, often housed within institutions of higher education, have the ability to impact many individuals including students, faculty, staff, and community members. This dissertation is a report of a mixed-methods study that begins to explore how state-supported postsecondary institutions may be able to impact individual behavior and thus, resulting health outcomes. …

Health Literacy And The Level Of Hypertension In Urban Latinos, Marlene Rosetta Glashen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health literacy (HL) plays a significant role in health care communication and patient compliance. Low health literacy leads to noncompliance with health instructions, poor health choices, failure to participate in recommended health screenings, frequent hospitalizations, and higher health care costs. Using the health belief model (HBM) as the conceptual framework, this quantitative, cross-sectional study addresses a gap in the literature related to the research questions of this study. The research questions are: (a) Is there a relationship between HL and the level of hypertension (HTN) in hypertensive urban Latinos?, and (b) Will HL predict the level of control of HTN …

Preliminary Nutritional Profile Analysis Of Box Tops 4 Education Food Products, Hannah Griffith

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The marketing of unhealthy food to children is often cited as a cause of the obesity epidemic.¹ However, most studies that examine this issue evaluated the marketing of food through print or television advertising. This project investigates the marketing of food products to children through incentive based programs, specifically General Mill’s Box Tops 4 Education. This study undertakes a preliminary systematic analysis of Box Tops food items to determine their healthfulness. A subset of all Box Tops food products was selected for review and a basic quantitative content analysis of priority nutrients was performed. Priority nutrients were identified …

Wellness Wednesday: Monitoring Lifestyle Changes Via The Transtheoretical Model, Mariah J. Bloom Ms.

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Physical activity has been shown to improve cognition, functional and overall health indicators across the lifespan. Older adults are less likely to participate in physical due to barriers and risk related factors. Additionally, lower income, underserved populations experience added barriers as well. Interventions addressing negative health behaviors in these populations have rarely been implemented. PURPOSE: Using the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) behavior change theory, the purpose of this study was to determine if five, monthly educational and exercise classes targeting these populations will improve motivation levels and result in facilitating increases in physical activity levels. METHODS: One validated TTM survey was …

The Effects Of Vitamin D Supplementation On Influenza, Jonah M. Spoerndle

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Recently the role of vitamin D in other non-classical capacities has been evaluated. One of these non-classical vitamin D roles is assisting in maintaining proper immune system health. One disease that has a great effect on the immune system is influenza. Vitamin D helps to prevent and limit influenza by moderating the inflammatory cytokines as well as promoting the production of monocytes that help destroy the invading materials. Through the use of vitamin D supplementation the recommended daily amount of vitamin D can be assured and optimal health could be achieved. The purpose of this project was to design a …

The Role Of Self-Regulation, Self-Efficacy, And Outcome Expectancy Value On Physical Activity Of Former Division I Student Athletes, Takilya T. Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In an effort to acknowledge the needs of student athletes after college, the NCAA designed the Challenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success (CHAMPS) Life Skills program to assist student athletes with this transition. In this program personal development outside of occupational skills is often ignored. Though physical activity appears to be of little focus of the CHAMPS Life Skill program, recent research revealed that student athletes' physical activity patterns surpass those of their peers while in college but this difference is not maintained among alumni student athletes and their peers (Sorenson, 2012). Self-regulation interventions have successfully mediated and predicted physical …

Social Contexts Of Infant Feeding And Infant Feeding Decisions, Ellen J. Schafer, Natalie A. Williams, Siri Digney, Marion E. Hare, Sato Ashida

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Background: Infant feeding takes place within a network of social relationships. However, the social context in which infant feeding advice is received remains underresearched.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the social contexts of infant feeding by examining individual and relationship characteristics of mothers and network members associated with advice to exclusively breastfeed, exclusively formula feed, or use a combination of breast milk and formula.

Methods: Information about 287 network members was reported by 80 low-income mothers during a one-time survey. Characteristics of relationships associated with mothers receiving advice (exclusively breastfeed/formula feed, combination feed) from each network …

An Assessment Of Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Among 7th Grade Students, Racquel D. Weaver

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continue to remain a public health concern in the United States, especially among young people. Levels of knowledge with regard to STDs have been investigated in prior research; however, these investigations have been limited primarily to older adolescents and young adults. Grounded in the social cognitive and subjective culture theories, this quantitative, cross-sectional study assessed STD knowledge (other than HIV/AIDS) among 7th grade students attending a public middle school in the United States. Demographic differences (age, gender, and ethnicity) in STD knowledge were examined to determine if these demographic variables predict STD knowledge scores and if …

Self Esteem, Locus Of Control, And The Relationship With Registered Nurses' Experience With Workplace Incivility, Elizabeth Anne Berry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study's purpose is evaluating the relationship between locus of control and selfesteem

in relation to the registered nurse's experience and perception with lateral and

vertical incivility. There is a lack of research concerning nurse-to-nurse incivility within

the nursing profession. The hypothesis examined whether dynamics of locus of control

and self-esteem could provide insight into the personality dynamics influencing incivility

in the workplace. This non-experimental quantitative study used 2 self-evaluation tools

and 1 demographic survey tool to collect data via Survey Monkey, a commercial data

collection company. Participants were 65 randomly selected faculty (n = 36) and

graduate students (n …

Development, Implementation, And Evaluation Of Refugee Health Literacy Program (R-Help), Cecilia A. Boateng

DNP Projects

Problem Statement: United States refugees often encounter significant barriers when adapting to their new host country; such as cultural and language barriers, and difficulty in navigating through the American healthcare system. For example, navigating through the American Pharmacy system to buy or refill medications is a great challenge for most refugees. To make matters worse, most refugees have difficulty understanding medications instructions which puts them at risk for making medication errors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate the feasibility of delivering an evidence based health literacy medication educational program for all newly-arrived refugees attending …

Increasing Vaccination Rates In Children Of Vaccine-Hesitant Parents, Keegan G. Edgar

UROP Posters

In recent years, the number of parents who have declining vaccinations or instituting altered immunization schedules for their children has risen. This has caused an increased number of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. It has also threatened herd immunity, which provides a measure of protection for those who are susceptible to disease given enough people are vaccinated, as this hinders the spread of the disease. To combat this threat to herd immunity, it is becoming increasingly necessary to find a solution to the problem of increasing personal belief exemption.

I took a cause and effect approach in the way I researched …

Herpes Virus Infections, Inflammatory Markers And Risk Of Developing T2dm And Cvd: An Analysis Of Nhanes With Adults, Aged 20-49, 1999-2010, Margarita Irizarry-De La Cruz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Herpes simplex viruses (HSVs), are among the most virulent and widespread pathogens; they affect 60-90% of the population worldwide. Substantial evidence indicates a possible association between pathogens and chronic disease. HSVs, among other viruses, have been associated with increased risk for inflammatory diseases. However, prior findings have been inconsistent on the role of infection in triggering autoimmune response and chronic disease. This study builds on the premise that pathogens can induce an inflammatory response and increase the risk for disease development. A representative U.S. sample from NHANES, a national population-based cross-sectional survey, was used to examine the relationship between HSVs …

The Behavioral Impact Of Knowledge On Breast Cancer Risk Reduction, Mia Hung

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to investigate the behavioral impact of knowledge regarding the relationship between breast cancer, vitamin D supplementation, and sunlight exposure considering levels of self-efficacy and response-efficacy. The study was based on protection motivation theory, which attributes behavior change to cognitive processes related to perceived threats and has demonstrated efficacy in promoting breast cancer risk-reducing behaviors. The study employed a quasi-experimental research design based on a survey using SurveyMonkey. Participants were New York City-residing women ranging in age from 25 to 74 who were recruited via an invitation from SurveyMonkey. Correlation analysis and linear regression analysis …

The Impact Of Immigration Variables On Tuberculosis Rates In South Carolina, Lisa J. Dimitriadis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) is the deadliest single infectious agent worldwide; globally in 2013, 1.5 million people died of the disease. Although TB infection rates in the United States are low compared to that of other countries, TB still remains a threat to public health in the U.S., especially among immigrant populations. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between the independent variables of immigration status, years of residence, and race/ethnicity and the dependent variable of TB infection within South Carolina between 2006 and 2012. To examine these possible relationships, this quantitative study employed the ecological …

Interpersonal Safety Of Active Duty Women In The Deployed Environment Of Bagram Afghanistan, Cynthia Tara Ferguson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States Armed Forces, 30% of women in the military suffer physical assault each year; in 2009, there were 22 reported cases of sexual assault in the U.S. Central Command. Aggravated assault, gang violence, sexual assault, homicide, and suicide can damage the morale of military personnel at a deployed site and collectively cost millions of dollars over time. Interpersonal violence in the United States military is destructive to the military system and directly diminishes mission readiness. This study was designed to illuminate the environmental, cultural, and political influences that affect interpersonal safety among military women in the deployed …

Planning For A Community Supported Farmers Market In A Rural Usda Food Desert, Carrie Lynn Engelbright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A community initiative to develop and sustain a farmer's market can address insufficient access to fresh and affordable fruits and vegetables for individuals working and residing in a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated food desert. This project addressed a particular USDA food desert in South Wood County, Wisconsin. The purpose of this project was to develop and plan for implementation and evaluation of a community-supported farmers market in South Wood County, with the goal to increase access to fruits and vegetables. Project objectives included development of a sustainable community infrastructure to support the market, development of policies and …