Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Lived Experience Of Albanian Migrants Who Became Obese After Moving To The United States, Briseida Xhelaj

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem of obesity is significant in the United States, and more information is needed about the factors that increase the risk for obesity among migrant populations like Albanian Americans. The purpose of this study was to discover the lived experience of Albanian migrants who became obese after moving to the United States. This study was guided by the social ecological model. The research questions were used to examine how individual, relationship, community, and societal level factors impacted lifestyle changes and obesity for Albanian American migrants after moving to the United States. This qualitative study involved the use of a …

Integrating Fema And Scouts For Local Community Hazard Preparedness, Megan Vocatura

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

My goal is to support the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based, plan to connect four counties in eastern Massachusetts with local Scouting resources to enhance preparedness efforts. The counties of Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk comprise the geographic footprint of the Sprit of Adventure Scout Council (SoA). SoA’s newly established partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) needs recommendations on where to stage preparedness and response efforts. My role will be to build a repository of evidence of current and anticipated hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks for the region and specific communities. This part of the project will consist of …

Assessing Sexual Assault And Harassment At Montclair State University: Research Abstracts, Amanda Birnbaum, Eva Goldfarb, Lisa Lieberman, Stephanie A. Navarro Silvera

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Public Health Implications Of Cannabis Legalization: An Exploration Of Adolescent Use And Evidence-Based Interventions, Joseph Donnelly, Michael Young, Brenda Marshall, Michael L. Hecht, Elena Saldutti

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Abstract: This article examines the relaxation of state marijuana laws, changes in adolescent use of marijuana, and implications for drug education. Under federal law, use of marijuana remains illegal. In spite of this federal legislation, as of 1 June 2021, 36 states, four territories and the District of Columbia have enacted medical marijuana laws. There are 17 states, two territories and the District of Columbia that have also passed recreational marijuana laws. One of the concerns regarding the enactment of legislation that has increased access to marijuana is the possibility of increased adolescent use of marijuana. While there are documented …

Aproximación Al Consumo De Alimentos Recomendables Y No Recomendables En La Primera Ola De La Pandemia Por Covid-19 En México, Erika Lozano-Hidalgo, Mauricio Hernández-Fernández, Pablo Gaitán-Rossi, Mireya Vilar-Compte

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Objective. To estimate the frequency of consumption of some recommended and non-recommended food groups during the Covid-19 pandemic in Mexico, and their association with sociodemographic characteristics and food security. Materials and methods. We used the Survey on the Effects of Covid-19 on the wellbeing of Mexican households (Encovid-19). We identified four groups with information about the frequency of their consumption, and estimated logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and food security. Results. Higher socioeconomic levels A/B and C were associated with higher frequency of consumption of recommended and non-recommended food groups. Mild food insecurity was associated with lower consumption …

Reply To The Commentary Of The Article "Monthly Prevalence Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Mexico", Pablo Gaitán-Rossi, Víctor Pérez-Hernández, Mireya Vilar-Compte, Graciela Teruel-Belismelis

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

The Process And Case Study Approach To Implementing A Nutrition-Specific Dissemination And Implementation Science Training In Appalachia, Ayron E. Walker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: Nutrition professionals face implementation challenges due to their lack of knowledge to incorporate D&I science into intervention design. To improve intervention outcomes, nutrition professionals must be trained in D&I science, which are currently absent in the field.

Aims: To identify and assess nutrition educators and practitioners perceived motivations, self-efficacy, and attitudes in using D&I science to inform the educational design and strategies of a nutrition-specific D&I curriculum for nutrition educators. Then to test feasibility of the nutrition-specific curriculum in increasing knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes by a case study approach, pre/post intervention design.

Methods: First, scoping review methodology involved the …

A Novel Approach To Reducing Adiposity Among Young Men, Jean M. Reading

Theses and Dissertations

Background

Lifestyle intervention is the first line treatment for obesity. Yet, young men are underrepresented in lifestyle interventions, which is posited to be the result of unmet needs and overall low concern for weight management. The aims of this dissertation are to:

Papers 1 and 2: Test the preliminary efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of a self-guided lifestyle intervention for young men.

Paper 3: Explore the behavioral and physiological factors associated with changes in adiposity among young men and women enrolled in a more intensive lifestyle intervention.

Results

Papers 1 and 2: The self-guided intervention produced modest weight …

Exploring Predictors In The Receipt Of Patient/Family-Centered Care, Arami Anwell

Theses and Dissertations

Study 1

OBJECTIVES: The research aim of this study was to identify predictors associated with the receipt of PFCC among U.S. children/families

METHODS: Caregivers of 38,803 non-institutionalized children, aged 0 to 17 years, were surveyed by the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) 2018–20019. Patient/family-centered care (PFCC) was measured using five components of health care delivery that were answered on a 4-point Likert scale. Logistic regression models were analyzed for the overall receipt of PFCC and each component of PFCC, with survey weighting added to adjust for complex sampling design.

RESULTS: Many predictors were associated with the receipt of PFCC. …

Social Media Use And Mental Health: An Educational Intervention To Reduce Depression And Anxiety In Adolescents, Natalie Catlett

DNP Projects

Background: Most adolescents spend a great deal of their time using various social media platforms. However, excessive and maladaptive social media use is correlated with worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents.

Objective: This project aimed to determine whether an educational intervention could help decrease overall time spent using social media and improve mood and mental health outcomes among adolescents with depression or anxiety disorders.

Methods: This was a quasi-experiment with a pretest and posttest design. An educational intervention about the relationship between social media use and symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents and strategies to minimize risk …

Pharmacists' Role In Opioid Use Disorder And Overdose Prevention And Treatment And Their Attitudes And Perceptions Towards Distributing Naloxone Under A Standing Order, Stephen C. Ijioma

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Opioids are a class of drugs that bind to opioid receptors (mu, delta, and kappa), located in the central and peripheral nervous systems, to exert responses such as analgesia, respiratory depression, euphoria, and miosis. The opioid epidemic is characterized in large part by an increase in opioid overdose deaths. Community pharmacists are one of the most accessible healthcare professionals who frequently interact with patients and can implement OUD and opioid overdose prevention strategies. Treatment for opioid overdose and OUD include naloxone for overdose deaths as well as medication-assisted treatment for OUD.

Objective: The specific aims of this thesis include …

Perceptions Of Physical Activity Guidelines Among Wheelchair Users With Multiple Sclerosis, Stephanie L Silveira, Brenda Jeng, Gary Cutter, Robert W Motl

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Physical activity guidelines provide prescriptive resources for population-level promotion of behavior change to improve health outcomes. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) recently created and disseminated physical activity guidelines for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) across the disease spectrum.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess perceptions of the updated NMSS Physical Activity Guidelines among wheelchair users with MS.

METHODS: One hundred thirty-four wheelchair users with MS participated in a cross-sectional study examining health behaviors. Outcomes were measured using an online questionnaire that included items related to demographic and clinical characteristics and a battery of questions regarding perceptions of the …

The Neighborhood Environment And Hispanic/Latino Health, Natalia I Heredia, Tianlin Xu, Minjae Lee, Lorna H Mcneill, Belinda M Reininger

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Hispanic/Latino adults on the Texas-Mexico border have high rates of chronic disease. Neighborhoods can influence health, though there is a limited research on neighborhood environment and health in Hispanics/Latinos. The purpose of this study was to assess the relation of neighborhood environment with health variables in Hispanic/Latino adults, including physical activity [PA], depression, anxiety, and lab-assessed conditions (type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and chronic inflammation).

METHODS: Participants were randomly-selected from a Hispanic/Latino cohort on the Texas-Mexico border. Neighborhood environment, self-reported PA, anxiety, and depression were assessed through questionnaires. Laboratory values determined Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and C-reactive protein …

Using Implementation Mapping To Develop Implementation Strategies For The Delivery Of A Cancer Prevention And Control Phone Navigation Program: A Collaboration With 2-1-1, Lynn N Ibekwe, Timothy J Walker, Ebun Ebunlomo, Katharine Ball Ricks, Sapna Prasad, Lara S Savas, Maria E Fernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer prevention and control (CPC) behaviors, such as cancer screening, human papillomavirus vaccination, and smoking cessation, are critical public health issues. Evidence-based interventions have been identified to improve the uptake of CPC behaviors; however, they are often inconsistently implemented, affecting their reach and effectiveness. Patient navigation is an evidence-based approach to increasing CPC behaviors. Nevertheless, there are few navigation programs that use systematically developed implementation strategies to facilitate adoption, implementation, and maintenance, which affects uptake and outcomes. This article describes the development of a multifaceted implementation strategy designed to facilitate delivery of a CPC phone navigation program to increase breast, …

Acceptance- And Mindfulness-Based Techniques For Physical Activity Promotion In Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study, Michael C Robertson, Emily Cox-Martin, Yue Liao, Sara A Flores, Ross Shegog, Christine M Markham, Kayo Fujimoto, Casey P Durand, Abenaa Brewster, Elizabeth J Lyons, Karen M Basen-Engquist

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and characterize the relevance and potential utility of an electronically delivered acceptance- and mindfulness-based approaches to physical activity promotion for insufficiently active breast cancer survivors.

METHODS: The acceptance- and mindfulness-based physical activity intervention was delivered to participants electronically over the course of 4-8 weeks. It consisted of didactic videos, experiential exercises, and workbook-type activities that targeted principles from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with participants after they completed the intervention. Three coders conducted qualitative data analysis on interview transcripts to identify overarching themes and subthemes.

RESULTS: …

Dna Methylation Pattern Of Cpg Site In The Promoter Region Of Calca-Alpha Gene As A Putative Epigenetic Biomarker In Neonatal Sepsis- A Prospective Observational Study In South India, Rudra Rupesh Reddy Narsapurapu, Deepti Thandaveshwara, Anshu Kumar Yadav, Akila Prashant

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Recently, several studies have been reported on epigenetic modifications of DNA as a predisposing factor for several diseases among neonates and adults. Here we aimed to study the changes in the DNA methylation pattern in the promoter region of the CALCA gene among the neonates suspected to have sepsis in a tertiary care hospital.

Methodology: All the neonates suspected to have sepsis based on the inclusion criteria during the study period were included in the study as cases. Normal healthy neonates were included in the study as controls. Positive cases were isolated from suspected cases based on …

Sociodemographic Factors As Predictors Of Low Influenza Vaccination In Chicago, Illinois, Ingrid L. Jeske

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Outbursts of seasonal influenza contribute to morbidity and mortality in the United States. Influenza is a contagious disease caused by influenza viruses. The main subtypes of the influenza virus are Type A and Type B. Influenza vaccines are among the most effective methods in preventing the spread of the influenza virus because they offer the best immune defense. However, health care providers face significant challenges due to low patient compliance with current vaccine recommendations and misinformation. Scholars have yet to expand and further explore the reasons for the gap in influenza vaccination between White individuals and minorities, such as the …

Predictors Of Health Literacy Scores In The Adolescent Oncologic Population, Amber N. Jenkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent research showed a relationship between low health literacy in adult oncology patients, poor communication with providers, misconceptions about disease and treatment options, and the inability to adhere to treatment plans. Comparative literature addressing adolescent health literacy contained insufficient evidence of these relationships. The purpose of this exploratory cross-sectional quantitative study, based on the health literacy skills framework, was to assess the health literacy of adolescents treated in the oncology department at an academic children’s hospital in Missouri to determine whether there was a significant relationship between individual health literacy scores of this population based on age, sex, number of …

Gender And Risk Behaviors Association With Hepatitis-B Infections Among Liberia Military Personnel, Joseph B N Kowo Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing number of hepatitis B-related deaths in the Armed Forces of Liberia was due to the lack of understanding of the associated risks with the disease. Gender, substance use, and condom use have been researched as related risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection (HBV). The goal of this study was to determine if gender (male or female) and risk factors (substance use, alcohol abuse, and condom use) predicted hepatitis B infections after adjusting for age, marital status, education, and military rank among Liberia military population. The theory that grounded this study was Bronfenbrenner’s socio-ecological model (SEM) which posits …

Improving Patients' Engagement And Retention In Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment, Leo W. Lavender

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance use disorder continues to be a major health crisis in the United States. Thousands of people die yearly due to substance use and related criminal activity. Substance abuse treatment is a remedy to the disorder and treatment centers admit thousands of patients yearly to address the dilemma. Throughout the years retention has been an ongoing barrier to successful treatment. This study explored significant obstacles to retention: motivation and engagement. The Baldrige Excellence Framework was utilized to assess the training, supervision, procedures, and leadership roles at an intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment center. This study utilized a qualitative approach case …

Experiences Of Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder In Medication Assisted Treatment Programs, Lynda M. Maxfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOpioid use accounts for many deaths each day in the United States. Although research has shown that retention in medication assisted treatment (MAT) programs increases quality of life for those individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and decreases premature death, there has been limited research on the perspectives of individuals with OUD in MAT programs and why they remained in or left the programs. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study, guided by Merleau-Ponty’s theory of perception, was to explore the lived experiences of those with OUD treated in a MAT program. An algorithm type interview was conducted to ask …

Improving Nurses' Knowledge Of Patient Self-Management Of Sickle Cell Disease, Angel Amaura Mccullough

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic illness affecting over 100,000 Americans annually. SCD causes severe pain, which may require frequent hospital admissions for pain control. A high level of patient self-care knowledge is needed to prevent readmissions. Patients usually receive self-care education at hospital discharge from nurses, who may not know about self-care in SCD. Inadequate patient education on self-management of SCD at hospital discharge can lead to hospital readmissions. There was a gap in knowledge among RNs regarding SCD self-care at the local facility. This doctoral project was intended to educate nurses about SCD self-management to increase their …

The Relationship Between Team Engagement And Physician Engagement, Lynne Miles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWhile physician engagement has previously been shown to be related to both turnover and burnout, there are no studies that focus primarily on the relationship between the physician and team. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between team engagement and physician engagement. The theoretical framework used to guide this research study is the neoclassical organizational theory. The secondary data source was from an engagement survey taken by employed team members and physicians. The independent variable is team engagement. The dependent variable is physician engagement. The instrument for the study is valid and reliable and was …

Cognition, Neurocognitive Disorder, Psychotropic Group Of Medication, And Fall Among Canadians Aged 65+ Years, Victoria Elaki Momoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the high incidence of fall among the elderly in residential care, this problem has been minimally explored and reported. This study examined the association between (cognitive performance, dementia, four groups of psychotropic medication-hypnotics, antidepressants, antianxiety medication, and antipsychotics) and fall among Canadian elderly in residential care. A multi–variate logistic regression was used for the analysis. The Social Cognitive Theory was used to interpret the findings of an analysis on 180,231 Canadian residents from 2018–2019. Cognitive performance at intact level (OR=1.114, p<0.001), cognitive performance at moderate level (OR=1.192, p<0.001), dementia diagnosis (OR=1.075, p<0.001), antipsychotics (OR=2.571, p<0.001), antidepressants (OR =1.486, p<0.001) and antianxiety prescription (OR=3.284, p<0.001) increased the odds ratio of fall. However, cognitive performance at severe level (OR=0.898, p<0.001), no dementia diagnosis (OR=0.001, p<0.001) and hypnotics prescription (OR=0.389, p<0.001) decreased the odds ratio of fall. Findings indicate that cognitive performance at the intact and moderate levels, antianxiety, antipsychotic and antidepressant medications and dementia were strong predictors of fall among the elderly in residential care in Canada. A limitation of the study was that the dataset used captured data from 7 out of 13 Canadian provinces and territories therefore, limiting external validity. The potential positive social change impact of this study is that it would guide caregivers, enhance fall prevention practices and decrease fall occurrence in this population.

The Factors Urban African American Men Perceive As Preventing Early Prostate Cancer Screening, Joel Mongo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prostatic carcinoma, or prostate cancer, is the leading cause of death among adult males in the United States. The highest rate of prostate cancer is found in males of African American ethnicity, as males within this cohort are 50% more likely to develop prostate cancer than other ethnicities. African Americans men are 1.6 times more likely to develop prostate cancer and 2.4 times more likely to die from it than Caucasians. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of urban African American men about factors that prevent them from seeking and receiving prostate cancer screening, and …

School Lunch Timing And Student Body Mass Index, Megan Monteith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity continues to be a leading public health issue in the United States. Many chronic diseases are associated with obesity, including hypertension, diabetes, and several forms of cancer. There are multiple known contributing factors to obesity; however, historically, there has been little research focusing on time of day eating as a possible risk factor for obesity, especially childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a significant risk factor for adult obesity. Obese children and adolescents are five times more likely to be obese in adulthood. The theoretical foundation for this study was the social ecological model. In this secondary correlational analysis using …

Educating Nurse Practitioners On Factors Associated With Compassion Fatigue, Alicia Moonesar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) across Canada continue to endure the escalating demands of increasing patient workloads, the deficiency of inadequate resources, and the paucity of leadership support. The ongoing exposure to these and other challenges often contributes to a complex work environment that may result in compassion fatigue (CF). CF can be operationally defined as a state of exhaustion and dysfunction because of prolonged exposure to compassion stress and all that it evokes. The need for education and prevention of CF is critical as the prevalence of CF is on the rise. Guided by Watson’s Theory of Human Caring and Benner’s …

Competency-Based E-Learning Module For Nurses In A Multi-Service-Line Surgical Unit, Exequiel P. Naculangan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Negative patient outcomes have been attributed to surgery-related complications. A gap was identified in an acute care unit in southern Texas because postoperative surgical complications were above acceptable rates. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to educate staff nurses on the provision of evidence-based postsurgical care. This doctoral project was conducted to determine whether completion of a learning module would increase nurses’ level of knowledge in acute postoperative care. The project was grounded on Knowles’s adult learning theory and the Dreyfus model of skill acquisition. Learning material using competency-based education was developed using the analyze, design, …

Alzheimer's Disease: Risk And Protective Factors To Improve Detection And Prevention, Darryl Clay Nevels

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a growing epidemic and is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Individuals with AD often have comorbidities due to the aging process. There is a lack of research on comorbidities as associated risk factors for AD. The leading hypothesis indicates that cardiovascular health issues, environmental exposure, social isolation, and amyloid-beta plaques influence cognitive health and are associated with AD. This study, guided by Finch and Kulminski’s AD exposome, is a caveat to explore a patient’s physical history of cardiovascular health, modifiable behavior, social isolation, and an AD diagnosis. Participants provided health information collected …

Socioeconomic And Health Impact Of Opioid Overuse On Working-Age Population In Minnesota, Colette Ngum Ngwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract The United States faces numerous challenges associated with the ongoing opioid crisis. Although the opioid epidemic is complex, opioid overuse affects users’ health and has a far-reaching impact on socioeconomic well-being. This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design using secondary data from a 2018 national survey of working-age individuals ages 18 to 45. Multivariate regression analysis was used to examine the associations between opioid overuse and socioeconomic status, health status, and perceived need for substance abuse treatment. The addiction career concept and chronic illness model theory were used to analyze these correlations. The findings indicated that people with higher …