Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Impact Of A Suicide Prevention Learning Module For Firearm Training Courses In Louisiana, Claire Houtsma, Lauren Reyes, Katherine Macwilliams, Gala True

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Firearm suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide prevention experts have advocated for upstream interventions that can be implemented prior to the development of suicidal thoughts, particularly those that focus on lethal means safety (LMS; e.g., increasing secure firearm storage). To reach firearm owners with LMS messaging, researchers have developed suicide prevention training content which can be incorporated into firearm training courses. However, no study to date has evaluated impact of such training on firearm course students’ subsequent knowledge, attitudes, and openness related to secure firearm storage. Thus, the current study sought to examine …

Skin Tone Discrimination And Birth Control Avoidance Among Women In Harris County, Texas: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kimberly Baker, Susan Tortolero Emery, Evelyn Spike, Jazmyne Sutton, Eran Ben-Porath

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Structural racism plays a major role in reproductive health inequities. Colorism, discrimination based on skin color, may profoundly impact reproductive health access and service delivery. However, quantitative research in this area is limited.

METHODS: We administered an online survey of women (n = 1,299) aged 18-44 from Harris County, Texas to assess the relationship between skin color discrimination and reproductive health service avoidance. The survey included questions on demographics, self-reported skin tone, and dichotomous measures of previous discrimination experiences and avoidance of care because of perceived discrimination. Binary logistic regression was used to examine whether race/ethnicity, skin tone, and …

Himmelfarb Headlines - September/October 2024, The George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Headlines (2009 - present)

News, information, and resources relating to Himmelfarb Library that is of interest to patrons.

Increasing Access To Acceptable And Affordable Gluten-Free Baked Goods, April Litchford, Karin Allen, Cindy Jenkins, Eva Timothy, Paige Wray

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Transitioning to a gluten-free (GF) diet can be difficult due to limited reliable recipes to produce baked goods at home and poor quality of commercially available baked goods. This study tested basic recipes capable of creating acceptable GF baked products at home using commercially available GF flour blends. Recipes for a drop cookie, rolled cookie, bread, and pizza crust were tested and altered during this research to produce reliable recipes for GF baked goods. To assess the acceptability of these GF baked goods, products were tested for springiness, moisture content, hardness, height, spread, taste, appearance, and texture during in-lab testing …

The Impact Of Health Status On Health Care Utilization Of Children In Foster Care, Jill Mcleigh, Gunjan Singh, Rong Huang

Health Status, Outcomes, and Literacy and Healthcare Utilization

This study sought to understand the health status of children in foster care; the relationship between their health status and health care utilization; and demographic and placement factors associated with health care utilization.

For questions about this study or others, please email [email protected]

childrens.com/fostercare

Planetary Health Learning Objectives: Foundational Knowledge For Global Health Education In An Era Of Climate Change, Kathryn H. Jacobsen, Caryl E. Waggett, Pamela Berenbaum, Brett R. Bayles, Gail L. Carlson, René English, Carlos A Faerron Guzmán, Meredith L. Gartin, Liz Grant, Thomas L. Henshaw, Lora L. Iannotti, Philip J. Landrigan, Nina Lansbury, Hao Li, Maureen Y. Lichtveld, Ketrell Mcwhorter, Jessica E. Rettig, Cecilia J. Sorensen, Eric J. Wetzel, Dawn Michele Whitehead, Peter J. Winch, Keith Martin

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

Planetary health is an emerging field that emphasises that humans depend on a healthy Earth for survival and, conversely, that the sustainability of Earth systems is dependent on human behaviours. In response to member demands for resources to support teaching and learning related to planetary health, the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) convened a working group to develop a set of planetary health learning objectives (PHLOs) that would complement the existing ten CUGH global health learning objectives. The eight PHLOs feature Earth system changes, planetary boundaries, and climate change science; ecological systems and One Health; human health outcomes; …

Can Written Prompts Help Medical Residents To Accurately Monitor Their Own Communication Skills And Those Of Others?, F. O. De Meijer, N. Nyamu, A. H. De Bruin

Family Medicine, East Africa

In healthcare, effective communication in complex situations such as end of life conversations is critical for delivering high quality care. Whether residents learn from communication training with actors depends on whether they are able to select appropriate information or ‘predictive cues’ from that learning situation that accurately reflect their or their peers’ performance and whether they use those cues for ensuing judgement. This study aimed to explore whether prompts can help medical residents improving use of predictive cues and judgement of communication skills. First and third year Kenyan residents (N = 41) from 8 different specialties were randomly assigned to …

Burnout: Half A Century Of Controversy, Renzo Bianchi, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

Burnout has become a focal point of concern in the contemporary workplace. The syndrome has elicited undiminished interest among occupational health specialists. The World Health Organization defines burnout as a syndrome "resulting from chronic workplace stress." Burnout is said to comprise three components: (i) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; (ii) increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism toward one’s job; and (iii) a sense of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment. This definition mirrors the conceptualization of burnout embodied in the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the ‘gold standard’ for the assessment of burnout. However, controversies …

Nutrition Education For Refugees: Successful Strategies And Barriers, Jessica Smith, Habiba Nur, Martha Archuleta, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Celina Wille, Casey Coombs, Heidi J. Wengreen

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Nutrition education can improve nutrition and health for refugees. Extension program directors providing nutrition education to refugees were surveyed regarding successful program techniques, program challenges, and both the barriers refugees face and the strengths they possess concerning healthy eating. Researchers used grounded theory to explore the qualitative data. Hands-on, skill-based learning emerged as a main theme of successful programs. Language and cultural issues emerged as main program challenges. It is recommended that future refugee nutrition education programs provide culturally sensitive opportunities for skill-based learning.

Reviving Hysteria: The Nineteenth Century At The End Of The Twentieth, Christina Quintana

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation explores popular and medical representations of female madness in two time periods: the late nineteenth and late twentieth centuries. I argue that 1990s American culture produced an abundance of texts, images, and narratives that revitalized the iconography and medical discourses of late nineteenth-century hysteria. Analyzing popular texts, films, and cultural touchstones of the 1990s, I explore how Victorian ideas about women’s minds—such as the inherent feebleness of the female brain and nervous system; the fatalistic, life-altering effects of female puberty; the association between hysteria and deviant female sexuality; and the implicit racialization of hysteria and female madness more …

The Seattle Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Als) Patient Project Database: Observational, Longitudinal, Dyadic Characterization Of People With Als And Their Partners, Suzanne C. Segerstrom, Edward J. Kasarskis

Neurology Faculty Publications

Introduction: The median survival time in ALS is approximately 3 years, but survival times range from less than a year to more than 10 years and much variance in disease course remains to be explained. As is true for physical outcomes, there is considerable variance in QOL, which is influenced by psychological health, coping, and social support, among other psychosocial factors. The Seattle ALS Patient Project Database (SALSPPD) provides a unique opportunity for researchers to address established and novel hypotheses about disease progression and QOL in ALS.

Methods: The SALSPPD is a longitudinal dataset of people with ALS (n = …

Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation For Complex Regional Pain Syndrome In Patient With Extensive Vertebral Surgical History: A Case Report, Munfarid A Zaidi, Mily Talati, Krishna Shah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has emerged as a novel therapeutic option for refractory complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). However, SCS placement is often complicated by a prior history of surgical manipulation and hardware implantation along the spinal column. Through this case exploration, we aim to expand the technical approach to SCS implantation in CRPS and encourage further research into innovative approaches for this treatment modality. Our patient is a 61-year-old female with a past medical history of bilateral C7 cervical pedicle fracture status and extensive surgical manipulation, including cervical laminectomy and hardware placement along the cervical spine. The development of …

Psychiatric Polygenic Risk Scores: Experience, Hope For Utility, And Concerns Among Child And Adolescent Psychiatrists, Amanda R Merner, Page M Trotter, Lauren A Ginn, Jason Bach, Katherine J Freedberg, Takahiro Soda, Eric A Storch, Stacey Pereira, Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Recent advances in psychiatric genetics have enabled the use of polygenic risk scores (PRS) to estimate genetic risk for psychiatric disorders. However, the potential use of PRS in child and adolescent psychiatry has raised concerns. This study provides an in-depth examination of attitudes among child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAP) regarding the use of PRS in psychiatry. We conducted semi-structured interviews with U.S.-based CAP (n=29) who possess expertise in genetics. The majority of CAP indicated that PRS have limited clinical utility in their current form and are not ready for clinical implementation. Most clinicians stated that nothing would motivate them to …

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letter - September 2024, The George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.

Three-Dimensionalization Mediates The Subjective Experience Of Fractal Interior Spaces, Joori Suh, William Stalker, Steen Pedersen, Assaf Harel

Psychology Faculty Publications

A fractal, a self-similar organic or geometric pattern that repeats at varying scales, is one of the most compelling characteristics found in nature. Previous studies on fractal patterns have demonstrated consistent trends in potential psychological benefits, such as stress reduction. However, we fall short of understanding one of the essential properties of fractals found in nature, i.e., the three-dimensionality of their appearance. In this study, we aimed at understanding the role of the three-dimensionalization of fractal patterns in spatial structures on human subjective perceptual experience. Two hundred seventy three-dimensional spatial prototype models were created for this study, spanning two dimensions: …

Infertility’S Impact On Couples’ Functioning, Elizabeth Sanders

Dissertations

Historically, infertility has been a taboo topic of discussion and is often avoided in conversation because of the stigmatization of the diagnosis. According to the World Health Organization (2022), infertility affects 186 million individuals globally. However, there seems to be a gap in the research as it pertains to the psychological well-being and treatment of men and women diagnosed with this condition. While it has become less of a feared topic, it still is not discussed or researched enough, thus further exacerbating the gap in research on mental health and treatment options. The following dissertation completed a critical review of …

Resting-State Eeg Microstate Features For Major Depressive Disorder Classification, George M. V. Quinn

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Neuroimaging studies have revealed consistent abnormalities in functional connectivity within specific neural networks that may serve as biomarkers for major depressive disorder (MDD). It is important to find inexpensive, non-invasive techniques that target these biomarkers to make diagnosis easier and more objective. EEG microstates are quasi-stable potential topographies that are thought to reflect the quasi-stable network activity of the underlying neural generators. MDD has been shown to alter features of the four canonical EEG microstates (A, B, C, D) with some conflicting results. The most consistent network abnormalities in MDD are found in the anterior default mode network, and this …

Admixture Mapping Of Cognitive Function In Diverse Hispanic And Latino Adults: Results From The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos, Rui Xia, Xueqiu Jian, Amanda L Rodrigue, Jan Bressler, Eric Boerwinkle, Biqi Cui, Martha L Daviglus, Charles Decarli, Linda C Gallo, David C Glahn, Emma E M Knowles, Jee-Young Moon, Thomas H Mosley, Claudia L Satizabal, Tamar Sofer, Wassim Tarraf, Fernando Testai, John Blangero, Sudha Seshadri, Hector M González, Myriam Fornage

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: We conducted admixture mapping and fine-mapping analyses to identify ancestry-of-origin loci influencing cognitive abilities.

METHODS: We estimated the association of local ancestry intervals across the genome with five neurocognitive measures in 7140 diverse Hispanic and Latino adults (mean age 55 years). We prioritized genetic variants in associated loci and tested them for replication in four independent cohorts.

RESULTS: We identified nine local ancestry-associated regions for the five neurocognitive measures. There was strong biological support for the observed associations to cognitive function at all loci and there was statistical evidence of independent replication at 4q12, 9p22.1, and 13q12.13.

DISCUSSION: Our …

Documenting Cooperative Extension’S Family Resource Management Impacts: Insights And Outcomes From A National Effort, Suzanne Bartholomae, D. Elizabeth Kiss, Maria Pippidis

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Family Resource Management (FRM) professionals of the Cooperative Extension System contribute to the financial security and well-being of individuals and families and are committed to contributing to financial literacy education scholarship and better positioning Cooperative Extension within the field of financial and consumer education. This paper presents a summary of a multi-year initiative by a team of FRM Extension professionals who build the case for creating a reporting system to document FRM impacts nationally. Initiative activities are summarized and include reviewing existing reporting systems, garnering input from FRM Extension professionals about the delivery and evaluation of FRM programs, identifying barriers …

Leveraging A Team Approach For Emergency Preparedness In Georgia, Virginia Brown, Maria Bowie, Pamela Turner, Aaron Golson

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This project cultivated a foundational level of training that will grow as an integral part of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension’s organizational commitment to provide systemic readiness in support of the emergency response. The development of four geographically dispersed, specially trained small teams within the University of Georgia Extension System built capacity for readiness, response, and recovery to natural disasters and local emergencies. These teams help facilitate a timely and skilled response to the needs of employees and stakeholders before, during, and after natural disasters and local emergency events. Specialized training continues to be provided to all team members.

Changes In The Perceptions Of The Neighborhood Environment And Physical Activity Patterns Among Mexican Americans On The Texas-Mexico Border, Natalia I Heredia, Soo Kyung Park, Minjae Lee, Lisa Mitchell-Bennett, Paul Yeh, Rose Gowen, Arturo Rodriguez, Miryoung Lee, Belinda M Reininger

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Little research on the association of neighborhood environment with physical activity in resource-poor communities has been done. This study assessed changes in perceptions of the neighborhood environment and the association between those perceptions and physical activity in Mexican Americans on the Texas-Mexico border in an area where there would be community efforts to enhance pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and programming.

METHODS: We analyzed data from a population-based cohort of Mexican American individuals on the Texas-Mexico border. From 2008 to 2018, interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect perceptions of neighborhood environment and physical activity at baseline, 5- and 10-year follow-ups, …

A Word From The Writing Team (September 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publication Spotlight
• Mark Your Calendars: First Friday Writing Retreats Are Back!
• Jefferson has funding agreements with specific publishers
• For FY24-25, the Open Access Publishing Fund process has changed
• The OPWPC Canvas Page offers helpful tools

Reclaiming Healing Spaces: A Phenomenological Study On The Transformative Power Of Outdoor Therapy From The Lived Experiences Of Black Clinicians Working With Black Clients, Lynn Murphy

Dissertations

This phenomenological study involved assessing the experiences of Black therapists who engaged Black clients in outdoor therapeutic contexts. The study was founded on the existing literature that shows the quality of the therapeutic relationship is pivotal for client retention and the Western standards that have historically favored treatment within indoor environments. To contextualize this research, a comprehensive literature review was commenced, covering topics such as the decolonization of therapy, the historical and present-day relationship between Blacks and the outdoors in the United States, sedentary lifestyles, the psychological benefits of time spent in nature, various types of outdoor therapy, and the …

Recruitment Of Cxcr4+Type 1 Innate Lymphoid Cells Distinguishes Sarcoidosis From Other Skin Granulomatous Diseases, S. Sati, J. Huang, A.E. Kersh, P. Jones, O. Ahart, C. Murphy, S.M. Prouty, M.L. Hedberg, V. Jain, S.G. Gregory, Leung, Denis H. Y., J.T. Seykora, M. Rosenbach, T.H. Leung

Research Collection School Of Economics

Sarcoidosis is a multiorgan granulomatous disease that lacks diagnostic biomarkers and targeted treatments. Using blood and skin from patients with sarcoid and non-sarcoid skin granulomas, we discovered that skin granulomas from different diseases exhibit unique immune cell recruitment and molecular signatures. Sarcoid skin granulomas were specifically enriched for type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) and B cells and exhibited molecular programs associated with formation of mature tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), including increased CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling. Lung sarcoidosis granulomas also displayed similar immune cell recruitment. Thus, granuloma formation was not a generic molecular response. In addition to tissue-specific effects, patients with sarcoidosis …

A Genome-Wide Association Meta-Analysis Of All-Cause And Vascular Dementia, Mega Vascular Cognitive Impairment And Dementia (Megavcid) Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Dementia is a multifactorial disease with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) pathologies making the largest contributions. Yet, most genome-wide association studies (GWAS) focus on AD.

METHODS: We conducted a GWAS of all-cause dementia (ACD) and examined the genetic overlap with VaD. Our dataset includes 800,597 individuals, with 46,902 and 8702 cases of ACD and VaD, respectively. Known AD loci for ACD and VaD were replicated. Bioinformatic analyses prioritized genes that are likely functionally relevant and shared with closely related traits and risk factors.

RESULTS: For ACD, novel loci identified were associated with energy transport (SEMA4D), neuronal excitability …

Communities Disproportionately Affected By Carbon Monoxide Exposure After Winter Storm Uri, Elyse N Portillo, Casandra Quiñones, Zachary C Foughty, Ryan Ramphul, Asha T Morrow, Kathryn Fisher, Stephen A Harding, Elizabeth A Camp, Shubhada Hooli, Eric A Russell

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Extreme cold in February 2021 precipitated prolonged power failure in Texas. In Houston, many patients presented for carbon monoxide exposure from neighborhoods with lower per capita income, higher rates of limited English proficiency, and greater median Social Vulnerability Indices than Greater Houston. Weather-related disasters disproportionately affect socially vulnerable communities.

Psychosocial Outcomes Of Pain And Pain Management In Adults With Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A Qualitative Study, Whitney S Shepherd, Andrew D Wiese, Hannah E Cho, W Conor Rork, M Usman Baig, Kristin M Kostick, Dianne Nguyen, Erin M Carter, Members Of The Bbdc, Chaya N Murali, Marie-Eve Robinson, Sophie C Schneider, Brendan Lee, V Reid Sutton, Eric A Storch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder characterized by bone fragility and fractures, short stature, dental abnormalities, hearing loss, scoliosis, and chronic pain. Despite a growing literature on the functional outcomes of OI, limited research has explicitly examined the psychosocial outcomes of pain within OI.

Methods

Adults with OI (N=15) were interviewed to understand pain-related experiences through a thematic analysis of semi-structured interview data. Research team members, genetic research experts, and OI clinicians developed an interview guide focused on topics related to pain and mental health challenges. Participants’ transcripts were coded by two independent coders; codes were then merged …

Factors Influencing Graduate Students Of Diverse Backgrounds In Their Selection Of Occupational Therapy As A Career, Jeffrey T. Lucas, Scotillia Fogg, Mandie Lynch

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

The population of the United States is becoming more culturally diverse; however, the profession of occupational therapy does not reflect this change, whether examining educators, practitioners, or students. This study was designed to identify factors influencing graduate students of diverse backgrounds, and how a career in occupational therapy was determined. Participants for this study comprised first- and second-year occupational therapy students enrolled at Lenior-Rhyne University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Winston-Salem State University. A convenience sample was used to obtain the population. These universities were the only graduate-level occupational therapy programs willing to participate in the …

Incisal Trait Variations Between Javanese And Chinese-Indonesians In Surabaya, Rahmat Avianto, Sayf Muhammad Alaydrus, Myrtati Dyah Artaria, Yao-Fong Chen

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Human teeth are unique since one population’s dental pattern might differ from another. Such specific dental characteristics, such as the incisor, are observable in each dentition. Objective: his study analyzed the population differences in Javanese and Chinese-Indonesian populations through observations of the incisal traits, namely winging, shoveling, and double shoveling. Methods: 50 dental casts (76 Javanese samples and 74 Chinese- Indonesian samples) were obtained from Dr. Myrtati Dyah Artaria’s private collection, stored in the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga. The traits were observed and scored using the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System (ASUDAS) and analyzed statistically using crosstab …

Unraveling The Multilevel Dynamics Of Water, Sanitation, And Child Anthropometry In Indonesia, Rifa Kirana, Ahmad Komarulzaman

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Anthropometrics, reflecting nutritional status, growth, and development, are crucial elements that can predict a person’s health and well-being. However, low anthropometric measures among children under 5 years remain a significant issue in Indonesia, often influenced by various factors at the household and community levels. Access to clean water and adequate sanitation has been identified as major determinants of these adverse health outcomes. This study analyzes the relationship between anthropometric measures and access to water and sanitation at household and community levels using a multilevel analysis approach.

Methods: The study employs cross-sectional data from the Indonesian Family Life …