Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Predicting Covid-19 Risk Information-Seeking Behaviors In Relation To Food Purchasing Concerns, Taylor Ruth, Quisto Settle, Joy N. Rumble

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

COVID-19 drastically altered the way consumers shopped for food as they had to adhere to recommendations for social distancing. However, the public has been divided across political parties in their assessment of the severity of COVID-19 and must filter through misinformation related to the pandemic to make informed choices for personal safety. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the influences on Oklahoma consumers’ risk information-seeking behaviors about COVID-19 within the context of risk perceptions while shopping for food. The Risk Information Seek and Processing (RISP) model and cultural cognition provided the framework for this study. An online …

Evaluation Of Recipes For Life Nutrition Education Program For Fifth-Grade Students, Omolola A. Adedokun, Jean M. Najor, Paula Plonski, S. Brooke Jenkins-Howard, Anna Caroline Durr, Jackie Walters

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Emerging research indicates that chronic illnesses exacerbated by obesity begin in childhood. While research continues to show that consumption of fruits and vegetables can lower rates of obesity, children in the United States often fall short of consuming the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Youth nutrition education and cooking education programs have emerged as proven strategies for promoting youth consumption of fruit and vegetables, and other factors (e.g., nutrition knowledge, food-related behaviors, food preferences, attitude toward cooking, and cooking self-efficacy) that mediate youth consumption of fruits and vegetables. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the …

Full Issue, Volume 11, Number 1, Donna J. Peterson, Scott Cummings

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Insights Of Precision Medicine Initiative’S All Of Us Research Program In Mississippi, Gouri Mahajan, Kristi Cofer, Richard Summers

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

While a key component of eliminating health disparities in rural areas is successfully conducting participatory research, many barriers prevent implementation of research projects due to lack of trust in minority communities. Adverse experiences and historical prejudices have left an indelible mark of skepticism and misinformation among these populations and established a breach of communication between researchers and potential participants.The All of Us Research Program led by the National Institute of Health (NIH) at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson, Mississippi seeks to both improve communication regarding population research studies among rural Mississippi populations and build trust in …

Racial Differences In Perception And Experiences Of Adverse Treatment By Healthcare Providers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of The All Of Us Data, Tanya Funchess, Traci Hayes, Yang Ge, Felix Twum

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Health disparities among racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. are well documented. Among the non-medical issues, including discrimination, language barriers, and low health literacy, the patient-provider relationship has been identified as a factor that drives health disparities. Negative interactions with healthcare providers and the healthcare system produce poor health outcomes, exacerbating health inequalities and reducing the likelihood of patients adhering to recommended treatments and therapies. The purpose of this study was to examine racial differences in perceptions and experiences of adverse treatment by healthcare providers. A cross-sectional analysis of select variables from the All of Us research program basic …

Using A Mobile Food Pantry To Address The Food Insecurity Needs Of College Students, Madison Lapke, Barbara Stoecker, M. Craig Edwards, Janice Hermann

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Food insecurity is a prevalent issue throughout the United States, the state of Oklahoma, and on Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Stillwater campus. Research has shown that college and university students tend to be more food insecure than national population averages and Stillwater’s food insecurity rates have been even higher. Mobile food pantries (MFP) generally have been effective in addressing food insecurity, but few studies have investigated their use to alleviate food insecurity among college students. Our Daily Bread Food and Resource Center (ODB) in Stillwater implemented an MFP on OSU’s campus. The present study surveyed students who utilized the MFP …

Rewarding Relationships: A Quasi-Experimental Design Evaluating The Impact Of An Extension Public Relations Seminar, Ashley Mcleod-Morin, Lauri M. Baker, Cheryl Boyer, Anissa M. Zagonel, Angela B. Lindsey

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

While Extension communication units have seen success in implementing brand strategies to raise awareness of Extension, the public value and need for Extension programming continue to be misunderstood. College students have the potential to ensure the future of Extension is viable. To expose undergraduate students to the brand and value of Extension, a public relations seminar was developed and delivered by a state Extension specialist to 95 students enrolled in an agricultural technical writing course at a land-grant university. The seminar served as a treatment in the quasi-experimental design, which included information about the land-grant mission, Extension resources, and potential …

Factors Associated With Fathers’ Attendance In A Latino Family Obesity Prevention Program, Sayaka Nagao-Sato, Silvia Alvarez De Davila, Aysegul Baltaci, Roxana Linares, Alejandro Omar Peralta Reyes, Youjie Zhang, Ghaffar Hurtado Choque, Marla Reicks

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Community-based programs may contribute to Latino pediatric obesity prevention; however, attendance remains low. This study aimed to identify factors associated with Latino father/male caregiver attendance in family-based adolescent obesity prevention programs conducted as part of a randomized controlled trial. The study used cross-sectional data from 137 fathers in the program, involving eight weekly sessions to improve their children’s energy balance-related behaviors. Evaluation data were collected at baseline and post-intervention. Fathers in a waitlisted control group attended sessions after post-intervention data collection. Attendance patterns were identified using cluster analysis: consistently high attendance (50% of fathers), declining attendance (19%), and non-attendance (31%) …

Work-Life Balance During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Insights From Extension Professionals, David C. Diehl, Glenn D. Israel, July D. Nelson, Sebastian Galindo

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Using a retrospective post-then-pre design, we asked Extension professionals to reflect on their work-life balance before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives were to assess whether work-life balance variables (work interference with personal life, personal life interference with work, and work-personal life enhancement) changed from before to during the pandemic, whether any changes in work-life balance were concentrated in households with parents who had caregiving responsibilities, and whether changes in any of these work-life balance variables were associated with respondents’ gender, marital status, or work location. Findings indicated that (1) personal life interference with work significantly increased and work-personal …

Development And Piloting Of A Novel Evaluation Tool For Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Anne R. Lindsay, Kelly Webber, Julie C. Parker, Ingrid K. Richards Adams, Rafida Idris, Laura Hubbs-Tait, Karen Chapman-Novakofski

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Childhood obesity remains chronic and high in the U.S., driven by factors including poor dietary habits and lack of physical activity. Interventions that address multiple causal factors may be the most appropriate strategy to address rising childhood obesity rates. The Cooperative Extension Service offers programs across the country to address causal factors of childhood obesity, but few coordinated or concerted efforts have been made to determine overlap, reduce duplication, or identify best practices in programming. To fill this gap, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Multistate Project W3005 Extension Workgroup sought to develop a novel tool to compare programs …

Implementing Inquiry Based Learning In Life Science Curriculum In Agricultural Education, Siera Meyer, Chance Kanode, Bryan Reiling, Nathan W. Conner, Christopher T. Stripling, Laura Young, Mathew Kreifels, Mark Balschweid

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

As Agricultural Education shifts to a more science-based curriculum to help fulfill shortcomings of the current United States science test scores, teachers implementing Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) is becoming more important. For Agriculture Educators to do this, training is necessary for both new and experienced educators. This study was conducted to gauge teacher attitudes toward and ability to integrate IBL in the classroom to meet these goals. Teacher knowledge was also assessed in four life science categories. Study results indicate that teachers have positive attitudes toward learning about IBL and implementing the model in the classrooms. Teachers also gained more content …

Traditional And Virtual Hypertension Self-Management Health Education Program Delivered Through Cooperative Extension, Michelle Parisi, Ellie Lane, Cheryl J. Dye, Rhonda Matthews, Danielle Mcfall, Ethan Bain, Windsor W. Sherrill

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Fewer than 25% of individuals in the United States with hypertension have controlled blood pressure (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). Hypertension Management Program (HMP) adopted the Health Coaches for Hypertension Control^© (HCHC^©) curriculum and adapted it for delivery by Extension agents. Eight lessons with intermittent health coaching calls were delivered. Pre/post-participation surveys determined changes in knowledge and self-reported weight, systolic (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The pandemic forced a shift in methodology from in-person to virtual delivery, and results were compared. In both traditional and virtual programs, significant differences were found in weight, knowledge …

An Analysis Of Equity In Service Provided By The Snap-Ed Program: A Comparison Of Dietary Outcomes Among African American And White Participants In Louisiana, Matthew Greene, Rhiannon Kroeger, Samuel Stroope, Bailey Houghtaling, Denise Holson

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Structural racism has contributed to increased poverty, food insecurity, and obesity rates among African Americans relative to Whites. Nutrition education programs should therefore consider how well they serve this population. The objective of this investigation was to assess whether African American and White Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) participants in Louisiana had comparable dietary behavior outcomes by conducting secondary data analysis of previous program evaluations from 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 among African American and White SNAP-Ed participants (n = 434). Variables measured included pre- to post-intervention changes in dietary behaviors (e.g., self-reported consumption frequency of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat …

Full Issue, Volume 10, Number 3, Donna J. Peterson, Scott Cummings

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Nudging To Health Training Acceptability By Food Pantry Personnel Supports Clients’ Healthier Food Choices, Kelly K. Kunkel, Aysegul Baltaci, Carolina De La Rosa Mateo, Sunghun Lim, Dianne Davis-Kenning

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Nudging to Health: Promoting Health Nudges at Your Food Pantry is a multi-pronged initiative designed for food pantry staff, directors, and volunteers committed to offering healthier choices to their clients. Participants receive the education, tools, resources, and technical assistance to make changes that will encourage healthful food selection among clients.

What Does It Take: The Roles, Responsibilities, And Fidelity To Implement A Physical Activity In Public Healthtraining, Bryce T. Daniels, Samantha M. Harden, Anna Dysart, Laura E. Balis

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Cooperative Extension Service (Extension) Agents are tasked with incorporating physical activity promotion in their work. Physical activity training interventions rarely report specific structures (dose, content) and measures (fidelity, resource cost). The study’s purpose was to evaluate the feasibility and resource costs of Physical Activity in Cooperative Extension (PACE), a training to increase physical activity in public health competency. PACE is a virtual, 9-week, 18-hour general capacity-building training based on the Interactive Systems Framework. Fidelity was calculated as the proportion of objectives delivered as intended and total time to deliver core components. Resource cost was calculated as the time spent on …

Helping Youth Escape Vapes: An Online Evaluation Of A Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Program, Adrienne M. Duke, Jessica Norton

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Electronic cigarette use during middle school and high school has become an alarming public health concern. Educating youth about the risks of using e-cigarettes through a prevention program can be instrumental in curbing the growing numbers. Our Extension team implemented a prevention program, Escape Vapes, which adapted three Stanford University Tobacco Toolkit units. This study is an evaluation of the program that 1,347 youth in grades 5 through 12 completed. Results from the online retrospective post-pretest indicate that participation in the program significantly increased knowledge about e-cigarettes. Overall, the results indicate that Escape Vapes is an effective prevention program for …

An Assessment Of Canning Practices Among Food Preservation Workshop Participants During Covid-19 In Texas, Jenna D. Anding

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Interest in home food preservation has continued through the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed home food preservation practices among individuals attending workshops delivered primarily through distance technology. Two hundred eighty (280) participants completed a survey that assessed methods of food preservation and sources of information and recipes that had been utilized within the previous 12 months. Of those participating, 148 had recently canned food, and 90 of those individuals reported using one or more unsafe methods of food preservation, such as processing vegetables with a boiling water bath canner, open kettle, or oven canning. The internet was the most popular …

Enhancing Environmental Cleaning And Disinfection Practices In Diverse Healthcare Settings During The Covid19 Pandemic, Alaina Herrington

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

PROBLEM: Inadequate cleaning and disinfection practices in the healthcare setting create an environment in which infectious pathogens can linger for days or even weeks on high-touch surfaces, presenting an increased risk of infection transmission to healthcare workers and patients. PURPOSE: This project assembled a group of stakeholders to develop and implement an evidence-based intervention to improve environmental cleaning practices and protocol compliance in three diverse healthcare settings.METHOD: The National League for Nursing (NLN) Jeffries Simulation Theory was used to guide this project by providing an organized sequence for developing and implementing a simulation-based intervention to train healthcare workers on established …

The Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Calls To The Mississippi Poison Control Center, Jenna Davis, Laura Lee Beneke, Michael B. Marlin, David Vearrier

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to change human exposure patterns to potentially hazardous substances including cleaning products and pharmaceuticals. Purpose: To characterize the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on calls received at the Mississippi Poison Control Center during the pandemic as compared to pre-pandemic years. Methods: We queried the Mississippi Poison Control Center Toxicall database for total calls, calls related to bleach, disinfectants, and hand sanitizers, calls related to ivermectin exposures, calls related to hydroxychloroquine exposures, calls related to COVID-19, and suspected suicide calls. Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic increases were seen in calls for exposures to disinfectants …

Factors Influencing Mental Health Outcomes Of University Personnel During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Rebecca C. Holland, Melissa K. Kossman, Leslie W. Oglesby, Morgan R. Eckenrod, Abigail S. Willis, Anna K. Porter

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Previous research links the COVID-19 pandemic to negative effects on physical and mental health; however, little is known about how those effects can be mitigated. Additionally, college campuses experience mental health issues regularly, which were heightened during the pandemic. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the current status of mental health within a university community and identify factors associated with excessive worry during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as mental health, resilience, grit, and other demographic factors. Methods: A questionnaire examining five domains (demographics, COVID-19 distancing behaviors, physical, mental, and social and economic health) was created, validated, …

American Indians And Covid-19: Morbidity And Mortality Disparities Among Indigenous Populations In The Rural South, Leslie Musshafen, Thomas E. Dobbs, Aaron Robinson, Thomas Wyatt, Michael Puskarich, Richard Summers, Seth Lirette, Caroline Compretta

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted health inequities among indigenous populations, with those in rural settings facing compounded barriers.Purpose To investigate morbidity and mortality experiences among hospitalized, COVID-19+ American Indian adults from rural and urban settings.Methods The described cross-sectional study used retrospective discharge data from the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Hennepin County Medical Center. Adults (≥ age 18) admitted from January 1, 2020 to August 8, 2021with a COVID-19 diagnosis and known race were included.Results A total of 3,659 inpatients met inclusion criteria. Among adults hospitalized with COVID-19 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, American Indians (n=73) …

Racial Ethnic Disparities In Functional Limitations And Depression Symptoms During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Hui Liew

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Purpose: This study seeks to examine how the impacts of physical and mental comorbidities and functional limitations on depressive symptoms vary by the major racial ethnic groups (i.e. Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics).Methods: The empirical work of this is based on the United States using data from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) COVID-10 Project.Results: Findings suggest that physical and mental comorbid conditions, functional limitations and depressive symptoms co-occur more commonly than expected for all racial ethnic groups. Females fare worse than males in terms of functional imitations (for all racial ethnic groups) and depressive symptoms (Whites only). Education has …

Formative Research To Inform Covid-19 Vaccine Education In Mississippi, Mmesoma I. Okafor

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine rates in Mississippi are below the national average. Vaccine hesitance is particularly high among rural adults in Mississippi.Purpose. To investigate community members’ beliefs about the COVID-19 vaccine and perceived barriers and enablers of vaccination to inform the development of vaccine education materials.Methods. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 adult community members in the Appalachian region of Mississippi. Interview notes were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results. Major themes identified were related to barriers and enablers of COVID-19 vaccination. Barriers included safety concerns such as a fear of side effects, fertility issues, death, and distrust of governing …

Relying On Young Ambassadors To Bolster Covid-19 Study Recruitment And Participation, Traci Hayes, Wendy White

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

In June 2020, young adults comprised 20% of the COVID-19 cases and asymptomatic individuals were seen as “carriers” taking the virus into their homes and social settings. As with many health issues, the minority population was dealing with worse health outcomes. African Americans young adults were not excluded from this circumstance. In Mississippi, the group had some of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the state. Additionally, some young people across Mississippi were expressing that they felt unengaged and left out of the discussions on COVID-19. These concerns prompted the research project, Young Adults Against COVID-19 (YAACOV), a project under …

Student Response To Covid-19: An Academic Interprofessional Case Study, Elizabeth Franklin

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for academic medical centers in each of their tripartite mission areas of education, health care, and research. For students, in-person classes and clinical rotations were temporarily suspended in the spring of 2020. Educational and clinical leaders at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, located in Jackson, Mississippi, immediately identified how students could continue training by volunteering in numerous interdisciplinary pandemic relief efforts. They could also be rewarded with academic credit hours by completing an online course focused on principles of disaster management and document volunteer hours. The purpose of this case study …

Designing A Community Engaged Training Program For African American And Latinx Communities On Covid-19 In South Mississippi: Results From Qualitative Focus Groups Exploring Community Member Perceptions, Susan Mayfield-Johnson Phd, Mches, Tanya Funchess, Charkarra Anderson-Lewis, Erica Thompson, Sandra Melvin, Mireya Alexander, Kierra Melvin, Samaria Lowe

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore attitudes and perceptions on COVID awareness and education among African American and Latinx community members and stakeholders in South Mississippi through qualitative methods. Design: Virtual focus groups were conducted in Forrest, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, and Jackson Counties through Zoom meetings. Community residents and stakeholders (N=56 total) participated. Zoom meetings were audio and video recorded, transcribed, and analyzed utilizing thematic analysis. A demographic survey was also administered. Results: Knowledge about COVID 19, vaccines, attitudes towards and beliefs about preventing COVID-19, intentions to prevent COVID-19, information seeking on COVID-19 preventative behaviors, and impact …

Strengthening Urban Food Systems Through Extension Programming And Community Engagement: A Case Study Of New Brunswick, New Jersey, Cara L. Cuite, Lauren B. Errickson

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Cooperative Extension (Extension) can, and in many cases already does, engage in well-rooted partnerships with urban audiences. Yet, it is important to recognize that there are many layers to the diversity that exists within urban audiences– there is no single “urban community.” This article presents a case study of food security programming in New Brunswick, New Jersey, including collaborations between Rutgers Cooperative Extension and multiple community organizations to illustrate important considerations for engaging in urban Extension initiatives. Specifically, challenges exist in identifying urban audiences, including those who are hidden, especially as the demographics of city residents can vary greatly within …

Extension Engagement With Urban Communities: Editors’ Introduction To The Urban-Themed Issue Of Jhse, Julie Fox, Donna J. Peterson, Scott R. Cummings

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This introductory article for the special issue of the Journal of Human Sciences and Extension (JHSE) highlights respectful Extension research and engagement with dynamic urban communities. Like the 2017 urban-themed issue of JHSE, the intent is not to diminish the importance of rural and suburban Extension engagement but to better understand unique experiences of Extension in urban communities. The 35 contributing authors represent a range of geographic and programmatic viewpoints. Insights shared

• demonstrate that diversity in our cities is multidimensional;
• reinforce the importance of culturally relevant engagement;
• address issues of access, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging;
• highlight the …

Visualizing Diversity: Spatial Data As A Resource Enabling Extension To Better Engage Communities, Justin Krohn, Jacqueline Davis-Manigaulte, Christopher Fulcher, Jennifer Sarah Tiffany

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Effective Extension programming relies on engaging people of all races, ethnicities, and cultures. Extension educators sometimes struggle with how best to engage communities that are not “traditional” program audiences. Centering data visualization on the strength of Black, Latino/Hispanic, Asian, Native American, and other potentially marginalized communities can assist Extension’s work to engage diverse staff, program participants, and advisory board members. For example, using maps to understand what languages people speak at home strengthens the connections between Extension programs and community participants and can inform staff recruitment and advisory board composition. However, maps of aggregated areas like counties can mask socioeconomic …