Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Awareness Of Genetic Testing For High-Risk Cancer Among Different Racial Groups In The United States, Okechukwu C. Erinne, Modupe O. Onigbogi

Research Symposium

Background: Genetic testing for high-risk cancer can provide information on personal risk of developing cancer, as well as diagnosis, prognosis and treatment once cancer has been detected.

Methods: Data for this study were obtained from the Health Information National Trends (HINTS 5, Cycle 4), conducted among U.S. adults (age ≥ 18 years) from February 24 to June 20, 2020. An equal probability sample of addresses were stratified, and an adult was selected from each household. Data analysis was conducted 3,865 respondents who completed the survey. The primary outcome was awareness of genetic testing for high-risk cancer (GTHC). We …

The Impact Of Virtual Learning On Health Literacy: Lessons From A Virtual Townhall Held By The Lamar University Recovery And Resilience Academy, Margot Gage Witvliet, Chiung-Fang Chang

Research Symposium

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the entire world. This caused universities and addiction recovery programs to get creative on how to reach community needs. Many professors found themselves teaching online for the first time. Apps for mental health and addiction recovery programs grew exponentially. Information on how adequate virtual programs perform are mixed. We investigate the extent to which a virtual program can increase health literacy. To accomplish this, the professors of the sociology program launched the Recovery and Resilience Academy (RnR Academy). The aim of RnR Academy is to serve as an outreach and educational center for the …

Implementation Of A Training Module On Alcohol Prevention For Promotoras On A Border Community In The Rio Grande Valley., Noe Garza, J Escareno, Alvaro Diaz-Badillo, Ihsan Salloum

Research Symposium

Background: Complications due to unhealthy alcohol use are widely spread, and there is a significant unmet need for prevention and treatment in the community. The South Texas-Mexico border region consists of over ninety percent of Hispanics and suffers from a significant shortage of physicians. Alcohol-related problems are highly unrecognized and untreated in this large Hispanic population due to the shortage of healthcare providers, low education levels, and limited trust in the health care system. Prevention efforts should be designed to prevent or reduce the risk of developing alcohol addiction.

Methods: The proposed module focuses on enhancing the Promotoras or Community …

Comparing Stroke Symptom Recognition And Intervention Times In The Rio Grande Valley, Joshua M. Ninan, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

This is a retrospective study that aims to evaluate the duration from onset of stroke-like symptoms to presentation to medical facilities for aid in the Rio Grande Valley. The main goal of the study is to understand the extent of pre-hospital delays with regards to the treatment of stroke in the RGV.

Influence Of Age, Race, And Ethnicity On Pre-Hospital Stroke Time Intervals In The Rio Grande Valley., Elio E. Garcia Sosa

Research Symposium

Currently, stroke represents one of the leading causes of death in the USA. Despite recent advances in acute stroke management such as thrombolytic administration and/or endovascular intervention, many patients remain ineligible for these treatments due to delay in treatment. There has been a great emphasis by healthcare professionals on improving “door to needle” time with very encouraging results. Unfortunately, there still exists a gap in these delays, and that is the onset to hospital presentation interval. This study aims at evaluating the time interval from the onset of the symptoms to when the patient presents to the healthcare facility. The …

Revisiting The Master Food Volunteer Program: Examining How To Enhance Nutrition Education In The United States, Stacey Viera, Lindsey Haynes-Maslow

Journal of Extension

America’s diet-related illness crisis intersects with a lack of nutrition literacy, nutrition security, and systemic inequities. The Cooperative Extension Service’s (CES) national infrastructure could potentially provide equitable access to quality nutrition education in the US utilizing a Master Food Volunteer (MFV) model. This research brief examined preliminary evidence for the MFV model as a support for CES agents and paraprofessionals, and results show a paucity of evidence. Further research and a pilot program with pre-established measures for health-related knowledge and behaviors could elucidate the model’s potential to increase equitable access to evidence-based programming, nutrition, and implementation guidance.

Development And Evaluation Of Impact Statements For The Expanded Food And Nutrition Education Program (Efnep), Kylie Pybus, Ronald L. Gibbs Jr., Karen Franck, M. Catalina Aragón

Journal of Extension

Extension professionals often communicate program outcomes to external stakeholders using impact statements. We developed and evaluated four impact statements for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). We drafted the statements after conducting literature reviews for core content areas of EFNEP that include diet quality, food resource management, physical activity, and food safety. Subsequently, we evaluated the statements by facilitating expert panels made up of subject matter experts and communication professionals (n=14) from 12 Land-grant Universities. These impact statements aim to support EFNEP and other Extension professionals when communicating program value with key external stakeholders.

The Social Determinants Of Health And Reentry: An Exploratory Study, Makayla Lewis, Brian Schaefer, Heather Ouellette

The Cardinal Edge

Being released from jail affects a person’s ability to secure basic needs such as health, housing, and employment. Compounding these barriers are issues related to returning to impoverished communities, complicated relationships with families and support systems, and minimal reentry opportunities within jails and upon release. This study explores how the Opportunity Network’s reentry workbook is working to address the social determinants of health and improve perceptions of successful reentry outcomes.

From Awareness To Action: Understanding And Addressing Health Disparities, Aamira Shah

The Cardinal Edge

In the United States, marginalized groups consistently face barriers to healthcare services necessary for maintaining quality of life and achieving positive health outcomes. Health disparities can be defined as “preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by populations that have been disadvantaged by their social or economic status, geographic location, or environment” (CDC, 2008). With input from insightful interviews, this article seeks to investigate specific challenges faced by marginalized groups in the healthcare setting and provide potential solutions to reduce health disparities.

Influence Of Apathy And Grit On Exercise Adherence For Persons With Parkinson’S Disease: A Cohort Study, Erica J. Kiernan, Evan M. Pucillo, Christopher M. Wiedman

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States. A preponderance of evidence supports exercise and physical activity as an effective intervention to slow the progression of motor symptoms in persons with PD. However, less study has been given to the influence of non-motor symptoms of PD, such as apathy and grit, on adherence to therapeutic exercise programs. The primary aim of this study was to characterize levels of apathy and grit in individuals with PD and explore any relationship to adherence in a community exercise program. Due to the importance of caregiver interaction, …

Results Of Nursing Training Reforms: Estimating The Scope Of Nursing Practice, Marat Serikbayev, Saltanat Mamyrbekova, Ainur B. Kumar, Lyazzat Kosherbayeva, Akmaral Abikulova, Laura Seiduanova, Elmira Serikbayeva

Journal of Health Research

Background: With the adoption of the Astana Declaration on primary health care, modern approaches are being introduced in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The created national foundations of the nursing management system in Kazakhstan are a visible manifestation of a new organizational culture. In connection with the large-scale reform of nursing and the creation of a new position of nurses that meets modern social challenges and international requirements, the role of nurses in healthcare has increased significantly. In this study, we measured the actual scope of nursing practice among nurses in the medical organizations in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Methods: …

The Effect Of Long Covid Syndrome On Physical Activity, Patrisha Hanna Villarmea

Master of Science in Kinesiology

Long covid syndrome is a condition where individuals experience persistent symptoms and functional limitations that can last about three months to two years after the initial Covid-19 infection. While long-term health consequences of Covid-19 have garnered significant attention,the impact of long covid syndrome symptoms is poorly understood. The purpose of the study is to explore the effect of long covid syndrome symptoms to an individual’s physical activity. Furthermore, this research aims to provide an overview of the existing literature on the effect of long covid syndrome symptoms on physical activity. The research would invite participants to answer two surveys that …

Critical Issues In Community Health Course At Kingsborough Cc (Coh 1200) - Fall 2023, Jose Nanin

Open Educational Resources

This syllabus includes OER materials and college policies for a fully online course that exposes students to a range of topics and methods that health specialists use to research health disparities in affected communities. Through readings and videos, as well as online course assignments and discussions, students learn about library/database research methods, credibility of health information, and the health disparities most commonly occurring in modern society.

Neurocognitive Outcomes Of Children Exposed To And Living With Hiv Aged 3–5 Years In Kilifi, Kenya, Esther Chongwo, Catherine Wedderburn, Moses Kachama, Antipa Sigilai, Paul Mwangi, Janet Thoya, Rachel Odhiambo, Katana Ngombo, Charles Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Introduction: Globally, 1.7 million children are living with HIV, with the majority of them residing in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to reduced rates of vertical transmission of HIV, there is an increasing population of children born to HIV-infected mothers who remain uninfected. There is a growing concern around the development of these children in the antiretroviral therapy era. This study examined the neurocognitive outcomes of children who are HIV-exposed infected (CHEI), HIV-exposed uninfected (CHEU) and HIV-unexposed uninfected (CHUU) and explored the relationship between child neurocognitive outcomes and child's biomedical and caregivers’ psychosocial factors.

Methods: CHEI, CHUU and CHEU aged 3–5 years …

Basic Human Values Drive Food Choice Decision-Making In Different Food Environments Of Kenya And Tanzania, Christine E. Blake Ph.D., Rd, Eva C. Monterrosa, Krystal K. Rampalli, Abdullah Nurus Salam Khan, Ligia I. Reyes, Shiny Deepika Drew, Paula Dominguez-Salas, Salome A. Bukachi, Mariah Ngutu, Edward A. Frongillo Ph.D., Elyse Iruhiriye, Amy Webb Girard

Faculty Publications

Increased access to a variety of foods in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) has led to greater autonomy in food choice decision-making. Autonomy allows individuals to make decisions through negotiation of considerations in ways that are consistent with basic values. The aim of this study was to identify and describe how basic human values drive food choice in two diverse populations with transitioning food environments living in the neighboring East African countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Secondary data analysis was carried out on focus group discussions conducted with men and women in Kenya (n = 28) and Tanzania (n = 28) as …

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus In Person Living With Hiv, Connecticut, Usa, 2021, Jonathan Dyal, Shiv Gandhi, Caitlin M Cossaboom, Austin Leach, Ketan Patel, Marjorie Golden, Joseph Canterino, Marie-Louise Landry, Debi Cannon, Mary Choi, Inna Krapiunaya, John D Klena, Trevor Shoemaker

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus is an underreported cause of miscarriage and neurologic disease. Surveillance remains challenging because of nonspecific symptomatology, inconsistent case reporting, and difficulties with diagnostic testing. We describe a case of acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus disease in a person living with HIV in Connecticut, USA, identified by using quantitative reverse transcription PCR.

Kenyan Palliative Care Providers’ And Leaders’ Perceptions Of Palliative Care Research Needs And Support To Facilitate Rigorous Research, K. Cartmell, E. Doherty, Nancy Gikaara, Z. Ali, S. Qanungo, E. S. Melikam, R. A. Powell

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Palliative care (PC) can reduce symptom distress and improve quality of life for patients and their families experiencing life-threatening illness. While the need for PC in Kenya is high, PC service delivery and research is limited. Qualitative research is needed to explore potential areas for PC research and support needed to enable that research. This insight is critical for informing a national PC research agenda and mobilizing limited resources for conducting rigorous PC research in Kenya.

Objectives: To explore perceptions of priority areas for PC research and support needed to facilitate rigorous research from the perspective of Kenyan PC …

Knowledge, Awareness, And Perceived Barriers Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening Among Bangladeshi Women Suffering From Cervical Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study, Muhammed Mohibul Islam, Farhana Sultana, Md Hasan Shahriar Rahman, Nandita Islam Pia, Md. Al Hasibuzzaman, Arman Ahmed, Mohammed Shamim Hasan, Md Kayes Mahmud, Rabeya Akter, Md. Saqline Mostaq, Mohammad Nurul Amin

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, awareness, and perceived barriers regarding cervical cancer screening among women in Bangladesh.

Methods: A hospital-based survey was conducted from January to April 2021 among 200 female participants. Statistical analysis of this study was performed by using Stata 13 (StataCorp LP, 4905 Lakeway Drive, College Station, TX 77845, USA), where Chi-square test was used for the determination of the correlation among different variables.

Results: Among the participants, 86.5% were rural residents, 96% were married, 87.5% were housewives, 47% were uneducated, and 93.5% lived on a husband’s income. Moreover, 84.5% hadn’t …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices Among Karen Ethnicity Mothers In Northern Thailand Remote Rural Areas, Wanchalerm Ritthimon, Aksara Thongprachum, Jukkrit Wungrath

Kesmas

Low exclusive breastfeeding rates among the Karen ethnic group in Northern Thailand's remote rural areas underscore the need to understand knowledge, attitudes, and social support to develop targeted interventions. This qualitative study examined exclusive breastfeeding practices and the factors influencing breastfeeding behavior among 14 Karen Ethnicity Mothers (KEMs) in Northern Thailand. A structured interview was used to collect the data, a triangular method to determine the data's validity, and a content analysis method to examine the data revealed seven themes and 14 subthemes. This study identified three key factors for successful breastfeeding: self-motivation, social support, and effective problem management, which …

Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors And Sociodemographic Characteristics Among Medical Students In Indonesia During The New Normal Era: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sharren Shera Vionnetta, Tommy Nugroho Tanumihardja, Kevin Kristian

Kesmas

This study aimed to identify medical students’ healthy lifestyle behaviors during the new normal era and to determine its relationship with sociodemographic factors, bearing in mind that, as future physicians and health role models, medical students play an important role in adopting and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors to reduce the risk of future health problems as well as optimize communities’ health status. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences of Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya, with 111 medical students selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using sociodemographic characteristics (sex, residence, year of …

Maternal Factors Influencing Postpartum Depression In Indonesia, Nurhalina Sari, Nova Muhani, Friska Novira Maya Dewi

Kesmas

The estimated prevalence of postpartum depression differs in developed and developing countries. Due to the increasing number of cases in developing countries like Indonesia, postpartum depression has become a serious issue. This study aimed to identify factors influencing postpartum depression in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, in 2023 using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale instrument. This study employed a cross-sectional design with a sample size of 251 respondents, selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria using a purposive sampling technique. The multiple logistic regression results indicated that women with abortion records had a three times higher risk (95% CI = 1.394–7.648; p-value …

Workload And Stress Level In Non-Covid-19 Zoning Nurses At National Central Public Hospital Jakarta, Zakiyah Zakiyah, Ulfah Nuraini Karim, Aliana Dewi, Siti Nuraini, Aan Sutandi, Rony Darmawansyah Alnur

Kesmas

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the workload for nurses directly handling COVID-19 patients and those working in non-COVID-19 zones. As the number of COVID-19 cases rises, nurses face psychological problems, including stress. This study aimed to determine the relationship between workload and stress levels in a non-COVID-19 zoning ward using a cross-sectional approach and Spearman’s correlation test conducted on 94 nurses at one hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia, selected through simple random sampling. The workload questionnaire with 15 items and the DASS 42 questionnaire were used to measure stress levels. The results indicated that most nurses (73.4%) experienced a heavy workload. …

The Ninth Myth Of Appalachia, Randolph Wykoff

Journal of Appalachian Health

Many stereotypes afflict our much-maligned region, and the Jonesborough­­–Washington County History Museum displays eight of these "myths of Appalachia." Here, our Editor-in-Chief suggests a ninth—that the people of Appalachia "do not care" about their health—and argues that regional health disparities result not from apathy but from a confluence of socioeconomic factors.

Prediction Of Factors For Patients With Hypertension And Dyslipidemia Using Multilayer Feedforward Neural Networks And Ordered Logistic Regression Analysis: A Robust Hybrid Methodology, Wan Muhamad Amir W Ahmad, Mohamad Nasarudin Bin Adnan, Norhayati Yusop, Hazik Bin Shahzad, Farah Muna Mohamad Ghazali, Nor Azlida Aleng, Nor Farid Mohd Noor

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Hypertension is characterized by abnormally high arterial blood pressure and is a public health problem with a high prevalence of 20%–30% worldwide. This research combined multiple logistic regression (MLR) and multilayer feedforward neural networks to construct and validate a model for evaluating the factors linked with hypertension in patients with dyslipidemia.

Methods: A total of 1000 data entries from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia and advanced computational statistical modeling methodologies were used to evaluate seven traits associated with hypertension. R-Studio software was utilized. Each sample's statistics were calculated using a hybrid model that included bootstrapping.

Results: Variable …

Lessons Learned For Engaging Latino Families In Community-Based Programs, Alejandro Reyes Peralta, Ghaffar Ali Hurtado Choque, Marla Reicks, Silvia Alvarez De Davila, Darya Soltani

Journal of Extension

A family-skills program for Latino fathers and youth was implemented to prevent youth obesity. Lessons learned focused on practices to address barriers to engagement and retention among fathers and youth within the Latino community. Program development issues included selection of organizations, facilitators, language, and delivery methods. Implementation issues included timing and location. Cultural issues regarding learner needs, and teaching and implementation methods need to be considered. Using the lessons learned, Extension professionals can create impactful programs that engage and retain Latino fathers and youth.

Environmental Toxins And Their Impact On Neurological Health, Maria Allesandra Elsasser

Master's Projects and Capstones

This paper evaluates the impact of environmental toxins on neurological health from a public health perspective. Employing a comprehensive review of literature across various databases, the study sheds light on the mechanisms through which environmental neurotoxicity influences health, highlighting key correlations between toxin exposure and the onset of neurodegenerative disorders. The research identifies significant gaps in current approaches to managing these risks, particularly concerning policy regulations and public awareness. Based on these findings, strategic recommendations are proposed to address and mitigate the identified challenges, with implications emphasizing the broader benefits for public health.

Health Risks Of Herbal Medicine In The Us: Recommendations To Improve Awareness And Advance Safety, Darya Sinkevich

Master's Projects and Capstones

Adults in the U.S. use herbal medicine as an alternative and in conjunction with conventional healthcare, in many cases because of cultural and economic considerations. With insufficient governmental regulation of the content of herbal supplements, and limited education of healthcare providers on the potential risks and benefits consumers can experience unexpected and potentially harmful health impacts from using herbal medicine.

The health risks associated with these products include but are not limited to, herbal and prescription drug interactions and heavy metal toxicity. For this project, a scoping literature review was conducted using multiple databases to identify the prevalence, health risk, …

Certified Community Behavioral Health (Ccbhc) Outpatient Redesign For Behavioral Health Care, Fatmata Kula Jah

Master's Projects and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to review and utilize components of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model to create an outpatient redesign model for behavioral health (without duplicating it). This was accomplished by recommending greater use of, and comprehensive integration of, Peer Support Specialists within the current behavioral health continuum of care by increasing funding for the CCBHC demonstration program through legislative expansion by using Medicaid eligibility. This study also recommends enhanced utilization of technological innovations in order to provide equitable access to populations in rural areas. This will enable CCBHCs to fulfill their mandate of providing …

Inclusive Education Is Power: Revising Sexual Health Education For People With Disabilities, Carly M. Tsuruda

Master's Projects and Capstones

For people with disabilities in the United States, comprehensive sexual health education is not always available. There are a number of reasons for the lack of comprehensive sexual health education, including excessive censorship and curriculum that is not representative of people with disabilities. Sexual health education and disability are both topics that have several preconceived notions attached to them, yet there is a dearth in resources that could provide accurate information to those both with and without disabilities. These preconceived notions that have been associated with these identity labels lead to negative health outcomes for people with disabilities such as …

“Am I Light Enough?”: Mercury Poisoning Due To Skin-Lightening Products, A Policy, And A Culturally Competent Solution, Raven Joyce Redaniel Uayan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Introduction: This paper aims to declare skin-lightening products containing mercury as a public health issue that deserves recognition in health and attention in health policy reforms.

Background and Literature Review: The public health issue analyzed with research and literature review encompasses worldwide mercury poisoning cases, databases of illegal skin-lightening creams, cosmetic safety laws, and policies on online selling platforms. The literature review addresses the existing knowledge regarding mercury in skin-lightening products and identifies the gaps in health policy and awareness surrounding this issue.

Methods: The paper includes many articles analyzing the issue from a global perspective, utilizing …