Health Policy Commons^™

Behere Nevada: Partnership And Policy, Sara Hunt

Community Engagement Expo Research Posters

Partnership: Nevada ranks 51st in the nation for mental illness prevalence and access to care (Mental Health America). Significant shortages in mental health professions, especially in rural areas. Other states using policy and funding to implement a “grow our own” model for behavioral health workforce development. Proposed a behavioral health workforce development center for Nevada.

Indeterminate Benefit Of Long-Term Beta-Blocker Use After Acute Myocardial Infarction For Some Patients, Logan S. Thayer, Khush Hussain, Nicholas Apostolakis, Gretchen Swift, Arifbillah Sarowar, Mohammad Al-Hadidi, Scott Yaekle

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Yndigegn T, Lindahl B, Mars K, et. al., Beta-blockers after myocardial infarction and preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med. April 7 2024;390:1372-1381. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2401479

for a patient showing 55% left ventricular ejection fraction after myocardial infarction.

Activity Levels Among Older Adults In A Life Plan Community, Emily D. Winters

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

This study aimed to analyze resident's knowledge of the health and wellness programs available to them in their facility. It explored activity levels, preferred activity methods, and health and wellness program utilization among older adults residing in a life-plan community. A total of 166 survey respondents, aged 65 and older, were included in the analysis. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess physical activity patterns, preferences for activity types, and engagement with the facility’s health and wellness offerings. Open-ended questions were assessed qualitatively through thematic analysis to find common themes within data. Results indicated that the most …

Comparing Cpr Ventilation Strategies Within Tualatin Valley Fire And Rescue Using A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study, Jack T. Hindley

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Study Objective: This was a registry based retrospective observational cohort study of roughly 1,150 cardiac arrest cases transported by the Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue emergency medical service (EMS) agency to hospitals in the Portland area from 2018-2019 and from 2022-2023 to compare cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) ventilation policy changes between these two years from continuous chest compressions (CCC) to a compression ventilation ratio of 30:2. Hospital outcomes were linked to EMS records through trauma registries, state discharge and emergency department data. The primary outcome was survival to discharge, and the secondary outcome was positive neurological outcome (Cerebral performance category score …

Academyhealth - 2024 Data Visualization Winners, Chelsea Keating, Emily Boniface, Mina Colon

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Social determinants of health, such as income, employment, social contexts, and the built environment, influence the risk of food insecurity. Food insecurity can be defined as uncertain access to food and can lead to negative health outcomes like increased risk for obesity, chronic disease, and adverse effects on a child's development and mental health. Drivers like limited physical access to food, limited transportation options, and the quality and access to food assistance programs within local systems perpetuate health disparities—particularly in those communities with populations who have been systematically marginalized. This descriptive study uses 2022 data from the National Health Interview …

Exploring Health Equity With Culturally Specific Providers Of Permanent Supportive Housing, Judith R. Solomon

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Chronic homelessness is an important public health issue. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is a promising opportunity for transitioning people experiencing homelessness into housing, however there remain unaddressed racial inequities in service provision and outcomes. The aim of this study is to better understand the role of culturally specific (CS) providers of PSH in improving health equity. I analyzed interviews with CS PSH providers for themes related to health and healthcare. Providers spoke about the importance of connecting clients to healthcare. Providers stressed the importance of honesty and lived experience, highlighting the strong sense of responsibility to the community. Providers also …

Comparing Acuity Of Patient Care At Student Run Free Medical Clinic Locations, Hana Warmflash, Olivia Krol, Alex Foster

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Intro:

Student run free medical clinics (SRFC) are present at roughly 75% of Association of American Medical Colleges member institutions1,2 providing care for underserved populations, such as those experiencing houselessness. 3 Persons experiencing houselessness have a higher burden of illness than housed persons but experience a greater barrier to obtaining care4. Delays in care result in more complex and longer hospitals stays4,5.

Our SRFC, Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic (BCCC), functions to address emergent complaints and monitor chronic health conditions. We aim to demonstrate how relocating from River District Navigation Center (RDNC) to a more accessible location, Resource Center (RC), enabled …

How To Kill A Human: Creating An Immersive Learning Game, Théo Caldwell, Nathan Bonnell

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

How to Kill a Human is an experiment in teaching through gameplay. The environmental crisis facing the planet, though denied by many, is a collection of well-documented historical environmental catastrophes. The purpose of this project was to design a method of relating the impacts of environmental systems on human health, highlighting the dangers of ill planned human tampering, by presenting hypothetical environmental catastrophes and then relating them to documented historical disasters. In pursuit of this goal, we designed a semi-collaborative game for three to six players with a suggested age rating of 10+, ideal for teaching individuals of middle school …

Differences Between Stem Students And Faculty On Seeing Value In A Classroom Belonging Exercise, Kaisa S. Holt

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Efforts to enhance belonging in undergraduate STEM classrooms are believed pivotal for student success. However, we must not only promote belonging interventions but also understand STEM students and faculty perceptions of their value and utility. We gathered perspectives of faculty and undergraduates regarding the implementation and efficacy of a belonging exercise (Our Lives Lived, OLL) used in multiple STEM classes at one university over two years. We hypothesized that students would see more value in the exercise than faculty. We sent a survey instrument with an OLL summary and a series of open-ended responses to faculty. We recruited for focus …

Universal Health Care, Oregon, Jennifer S. Arnold, Bethany Clouse, Alec Martin

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Historically, the US has chosen not to fund universal health care at every opportunity, leaving our nation as the only industrialized country without some system of health coverage for our citizens and with the worst health care outcomes of any high-income nation in the world. Health care in Oregon is no exception. Our current health care system is financially unsustainable, harmfully complex, and socially unjust, as well as inequitably delivered. Too many Oregonians, because of their race, age, income, geography, or insurance, endure vastly different health care access, varied health care quality, and wide-ranging health outcomes. In 2019, the Oregon …

Behind The Walls: The Implications Of Assisted Living Building Codes On Resident Safety, Adam Pennavaria, Lindsey Smith, Paula Carder, Cassandra Hua, Eric Jutkowitz, Kali Thomas

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

As the US population collectively ages, issues related to assisted living (AL) resident safety have become an increasingly pressing issue for the general public, reflected by major media reporting in the last year. The building codes that govern ALs play an important role in mitigating the risks associated with falls, wandering, and other hazards, especially for residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. We sought to understand how states vary in their approaches to building code regulations that might impact resident safety. We used search term-based text retrieval to identify areas of text relevant to locks, alarms, and egress …

Expanded Patient Reach At New Student Run Free Medical Clinic Location, Olivia Krol, Hana Warmflash, Alex Foster

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Background: Critical to modern medical education, student run free medical clinics (SRFCs) are present at more than 75% of AAMC member institutions. SRFCs educate students while providing low-barrier, free healthcare to underserved populations. SRFCs provide unique leadership and health systems management opportunities not traditionally emphasized in training, including leading logistical and operational changes.

In this project, we highlight the impact of a student-led operational initiative that transitioned our clinic from the River District Navigation Center (RDNC) to the Resource Center (RC), improving accessibility.

Methods:

Deidentified patient data from medical clinics from January 2024 to February 2025 were analyzed using RStudio …

No Vaccine? Why Not: Causes Of Vaccine Hesitancy And How Governments Can Stop It, Alexander (Alec) Mccarty '25

Honor Scholar Theses

Vaccine hesitancy is a term that has entered the spotlight since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With concerns about efficacy, safety, and individual choice, many people have developed a hesitancy toward receiving any vaccine, creating concerns for public and global health. Through responses from local and state health departments about their actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and through analysis of state vaccine rates based on political affiliation, this study suggests that vaccine hesitancy is a current issue that is likely politically motivated. States that are Republican affiliated have lower rates of vaccine uptake, and in turn they have higher …

Evaluating The Current State Of Quality Measure Reporting In The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System, Kinan Sawar, Geoffrey Potts Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) requires physicians to report quality measures along with other metrics that are used to determine an annual percentage adjustment to physician Medicare Part B payments. Unfortunately, physicians have been forced to choose from an ineffective, limited set of quality measures. This has led to an overreliance on process measures, which fail to stratify physician performance effectively; it has also led to differences in the number of reporting options across specialties, resulting in unequal opportunity for physicians to succeed in MIPS. Using Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) public use file data from 2021-2024, …

Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol Policy And Related Health Impact Among College-Aged Individuals In South Carolina: A Scoping Review, Emily K. Luoma

Senior Theses

After the 2018 Farm Bill passed, loopholes were quickly found that led to the popularization of delta-8 THC, a derivative of delta-9 THC, more commonly known as marijuana. Use of this substance became particularly high in states that criminalized marijuana, such as South Carolina. This scoping review aimed to assess South Carolina’s current delta-8 policies in the context of health-related impacts among college-aged students. Comprehensively analyzing the results of relevant studies, it was determined that there are three commonly observed threats to public health that are direct outcomes of existing policies: 1) a lack of quality control standards; 2) misleading …

Strengthening Local Health Systems And Governance For Universal Health Coverage: Experiences And Lessons From The Covid-19 Pandemic Response In Quezon City, Philippines, Esperanza Anita Escano-Arias, Ramona Asuncion D.G. Abarquez, Rolando V. Cruz, Rosalie Espeleta, Madeline Mae Ong, Arianna Maever L. Amit, Veincent Christian Pepito, Vida Gomez, Manuel M. Dayrit

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the Philippines's transition toward universal health coverage. However, some local government units in the country made use of the pandemic as a catalyst to strengthen their local health system, scale-up the provision of preventive and primary care services, and improve health governance to make it more prepared to face future pandemics and realize the aims of the country's new Universal Healthcare Act. This paper describes the response of the local government of Quezon City, Philippines, to COVID-19 and how it strengthened local health systems. We also discuss enablers such as partnerships, collaborations, and foresight to …

Preferences And Willingness For Starting Daily, On-Demand, And Long-Acting Injectable Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Transfeminine Persons In The Us, 2022-2023, Duygu Islek, Travis Sanchez, Stefan Baral, Carolyn Brown, Joanna A. Caldwell, Jennifer L. Glick, Danielle Friedman Nestadt, Jeb Jones, Iaah L. Lucas, Supriya Sarkar, Annemiek De Ruiter, Patrick S. Sullivan, Mariah Valentine-Graves, Savannah Winter, Vani Vannappagari

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background There remains limited information concerning US transfeminine persons preferences across varying PrEP options. We examined PrEP option willingness, preferences, and associated factors among a US nationwide sample of transfeminine persons. Methods Sexually active transfeminine persons age 15 + were recruited online between June 2022-October 2023 through social media advertisements. Transfeminine persons not diagnosed with HIV were asked about willingness to initiate, and ranked preference, of three PrEP options- daily oral (DO), on-demand, and long-acting injectable (LA-PrEP). Log-binomial models were used to examine PrEP modality willingness and associated sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. Results Among 2657 transfeminine persons not currently using …

#Discreetshipping: Selling E-Cigarettes On Tiktok, Page D. Dobbs, Eric D. Schisler, Charlotte Mccormick

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction

Youth and young adult use of e-cigarette products continues to remain high despite regulatory approaches to reduce youth access. This study sought to examine TikTok content regarding the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes.

Aims and Methods

TikTok videos (n = 475) and metadata posted between June 2022 and August 2023 were scraped using a TikTok application programming interface and popular hashtags used to sell vaping products (ie, #discreetshipping [40.8 million], #puffbundle [14.8 million], #hiddennic [1.0 million]). After watching the 25 most viewed videos (39 600–868 800 views), a codebook was developed. All metadata were annotated using 11 unique …

"Health Gatekeepers": The Influence Of Women On Health Practices In Rural, Central Appalachia, Reese Lycan

Senior Theses

Women have historically assumed leadership roles in familial and community health promotion, intervention, and facilitation. While the role of women in family health is globally understood and the historical importance of female leadership has been documented, there remains a gap in knowledge regarding the role of women as “health gatekeepers”. Furthermore, when considering the Appalachian region, there are limited studies regarding women’s place in leadership as far as health is concerned. Therefore, this study employs a hermeneutic phenomenological framework to explore the lived experiences of women in relation to their family and community’s health in rural, Central Appalachia- a region …

H.B. 22-1326: Analysis Of Colorado’S Fentanyl Policy, William Morris

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

Fentanyl is one the most potent drugs on the market, its synthetic nature makes it is one of the deadliest at the lowest quantities. Many of its injectors are entirely unaware of its existence when they consume cocaine, methamphetamine, Xanax, ecstasy, and heroin. Nationwide and within Colorado, the use of synthetic fentanyl has perpetuated a crisis that threatens the health and safety of numerous communities, with both fatal and non-fatal overdoses continually on the rise. In 2022, Colorado passed H.B. 22-1326, aimed at curbing fentanyl deaths and non-fatal overdoses, by further criminalizing fentanyl possession. Understanding the effectiveness of felony-heavy drug …

A Narrative Review Of The Covid-19 Infodemic And Censorship In Healthcare, Mitchell Liester, Sohaib Ashraf, Patricia Callisperis, Hector Carvallo, Shankara Chetty, Robert Enzenauer, Carlos Franco-Paredes, Raul Pineda, Panagis Polykretis, Rachel Wilkenson, Peter Mccullough

Secrecy and Society

Ideological and financial motivations have undermined science for decades. In this narrative review, we explore how organizations and governments used misinformation, disinformation, censorship, and secrecy to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. Various rationales for employing censorship and secrecy during the COVID-19 pandemic are examined including how organizations and governments create confusion about the risks associated with their products and blame avoidance to shift responsibility and to avoid accountability for their actions. Methods of censorship employed during the COVID-19 pandemic are reviewed, examples are provided, and the consequences of these actions are reviewed. Information included in this review was obtained from scientific …

Association Of Messenger Rna Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Vaccination And Reductions In Post Covid Conditions Following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection In A Us Prospective Cohort Of Essential Workers, Josephine Mak, Sana Khan, Amadea Britton, Spencer Rose, Lisa Gwynn, Katherine D Ellingson, Jennifer Meece, Leora R Feldstein, Harmony Tyner, Laura J Edwards, Matthew S Thiese, Allison Naleway, Manjusha Gaglani, Natasha Solle, Jefferey L Burgess, Julie Mayo Lamberte, Meghan Shea, Taryn Hunt-Smith, Alberto Caban-Martinez, Cynthia Porter, Ryan Wiegand, Ramona Rai, Kurt T Hegmann, James Hollister, Ashley Fowlkes, Meredith Wesley, Andrew L Philips, Patrick Rivers, Robin Bloodworth, Gabriella Newes-Adeyi, Lauren E W Olsho, Sarang K Yoon, Sharon Saydah, Karen Lutrick

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Background: Data are limited on whether vaccination reduces post COVID conditions (PCCs) risk after less severe nonhospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study assessed whether COVID-19 vaccination protected against PCCs in persons with mild initial infections during Delta and Omicron variant predominance.

Methods: This study utilized a case-control design, nested within the HEROES-RECOVER cohort. Participants aged ≥18 years with test-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between 28 June 2021 and 14 September 2022 were surveyed for PCCs, defined by symptoms lasting >4 weeks after initial infection. Cases self-reported PCCs and controls self-reported no PCCs. The exposure was …

Mobilizing Prevention And Early Detection Of Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias (Adrd) In Allegheny County Through The Area Agency On Aging (Aaa), Laiba N. Mirza

Public Health Capstone Projects

1. Objectives: In collaboration with the Department of Human Services (DHS): the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) using the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI), my capstone project will involve the development of a comprehensive literature review examining the impacts of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) on patients and their caregivers. The project aims to help the AAA focus on strategies to delay the onset of ADRD in Allegheny County. It also seeks to evaluate and enhance early detection programs for ADRD established by the AAA in communities within the county. Additionally, the project will explore how public health initiatives can …

Health Equity & Parental Leave: Addressing Gaps In Maternal Health Policy, Destiny L. Smith

Public Health Capstone Projects

Objective: This capstone project at Duquesne University will address health equity by focusing on employer-provided maternal and parental leave policies in the United States among underserved groups. It aims to address the gaps in these policies and analyze how disparities in leave policies across different industries can impact maternal and infant health outcomes.

Priority Population Served: This study will primarily target underserved employees who had to take some type of leave policy while working for an intended employer.

Methods: This project will engage in data analysis of the 2024 BIRTH survey results that the Pittsburgh Business Group on …

Assisted Reproductive Technology (Art) In The Mountain West, 2022, Caitlin J. Saladino, Kristian Thymianos, William E. Brown Jr., Monserrat Cristando-Romo, Taylor Volk, Yashesvi Sharma

Health

This fact sheet examines data on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinics located in five Mountain West states: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2022 Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report includes data from all 50 states and provides information on ART services offered by individual clinics, including data on total cycles, fertility preservation cycles, pregnancies, deliveries, and total infants born.

National Cancer Centers And Cancer Rates In Nevada, 2017-2021, Yashesvi Sharma, Ivan Sun, Taylor Volk, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr., Fatma Nasoz

Health

This fact sheet presents data from the National Institutes of Health including the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) “State Cancer Profiles” report and includes age-adjusted cancer incidence rates by race/ethnicity in Nevada, between 2017 and 2021. The fact sheet also shows data from the 2024 National Cancer Institute’s “NCI-Designated Cancer Centers” map, listing NCI-Designated Cancer Centers by state, and the distance to the nearest NCI-Designated Cancer Centers from the Las Vegas metro and Reno metro.

Analysis Of Systematic Trade-Offs Between Military And Healthcare Expenditure Alongside Gdp Growth Of Select Asian And Western Exporting Economies In The 21st Century, Rahul Balamurugan, Carlos Gershenson, Preethi Nanjundan, Hiroki Sayama

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

This study explores the complexity in the trade-offs between military expenditure, healthcare expenditure, and GDP growth across select Asian nations and major weapon-exporting countries, examining how nations allocate finite resources between national security and human well-being over the past two decades. Using a systems science approach, the research integrates Granger causality testing to analyze temporal and directional relationships among GDP growth, military expenditure, and healthcare expenditure, uncovering their dynamic interdependencies. The methodology includes trend and slope analysis, Granger causality testing, outlier detection, and clustering to identify heterogeneity in resource allocation strategies. Developed, weapon-exporting nations exhibit complementary trends, with strong causality …

Thai Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax: Does It Really Help?, Sitaporn Suriya, Buraskorn Torut

Kesmas

A solution recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases is the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax. This study aimed to evaluate the Thai SSB tax efficiency affecting the change in post-tax individual-level consumption and find causal explanations for the people’s consumption behavior after the SSB tax was implemented. This study used a Productivity Model, and stratified random sampling was conducted by selecting 1,200 people. An in-depth interview was conducted to seek causal explanations for post-SSB tax consumption behavior with 15 key informants. The results revealed the SSB tax’s efficiency in terms of perception and understanding at …

Exploring Physician Well-Being: A Bibliometric Analysis Of Mental Health, Suriya Kumareswaran, Bala Murali Sundram, Vanitha Thurairasu

Kesmas

This bibliometric study examined the evolving research landscape on physician mental health from 2010 to 2023, analyzing key themes, publication trends, and global contributions. A total of 3,360 articles, including 3,137 original research and 223 reviews, were sourced from Web of Science and Scopus. Findings revealed a significant increase in research output, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with burnout, depression, and anxiety emerging as dominant themes. The US accounted for most publications, while research from low- and middle-income countries remains limited, indicating a substantial global disparity. Thematic analysis highlighted variations in burnout assessment methodologies, underscoring the need for standardized evaluation …

Five-Year Journey Of Technical Assistance In Health Governance Reforms: A Case Report, Popy Yuniar, Indang Trihandini, Ibnu Muyassar, Latifatul Khoiriyah, Minawati Minawati, Fathiyya Aliyah Birjaman, Tyra Septi Diana, Annabel Serafina, Hertina Raisa Putri, Rana Maimunah, Riko Setiawan, Nadazaira Alifia Ramadhianisa, Aris Diyanto

Kesmas

Many districts and cities in Indonesia continue to have Public Health Development Index scores below the national average, highlighting the need for improved health governance. This study assessed the five-year impact (2019–2023) of a mentoring program for 149 District Health Offices in preparing annual work plans, focusing on stagnation or performance declines. Using a qualitative approach, the study analyzed annual work plan scores before and after technical assistance, conducted focus group discussions, and carried out in-depth interviews to identify challenges. Key barriers included data management issues, weak advocacy, knowledge transfer gaps, and poor cross-sectoral coordination, which hindered decision-making and program …