Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Over-The-Counter Medications Among Undergraduate Students At The University Of Mississippi, Anna S. Dawson

Honors Theses

This study examines and compares knowledge and attitudes towards over-the-counter (OTC) medications among undergraduate college students at the University of Mississippi. OTCs are purchased and administered without a prescription, making them an efficient, safe, and affordable method of healthcare. It is important to determine the attitudes college students have towards these drugs and if they are able to safely and correctly use them. Information gathered from this study can be used to guide future education on medication literacy and to gain insight into how college students use OTCs to medicate themselves. A Qualtrics survey was sent out to a random …

Nourishing Births: A Program Evaluation Proposal For Community-Based Nutrition Education, Food Access, And Garden Engagement Among Black Birthing People, Naa Deedei-Vera Hammond

Master's Projects and Capstones

Black birthing people in the United States continue to experience unequal maternal health outcomes, shaped in part by racism and barriers to nutritious food, culturally relevant health education, and supportive community spaces. While prenatal nutrition education and food assistance programs can provide important resources, information alone cannot address the challenges many people face when trying to access healthy and affordable food during pregnancy. The Nourishing Births Initiative is a proposed community-based maternal health program designed to respond to these needs by bringing together prenatal nutrition education, help connecting to food resources, community gardening, and peer support for Black birthing people …

Perspective: Improving Social Connection And Inclusion Through Equitable Digital Health Solutions, Dominika Kwasnicka, Jaimon Kelly, Eleanor Quested, Loretta Baldassar, Suzanne Robinson, Richard Sinnott, Paul O’Halloran, Anne Tiedemann, Paul Flatau, Rajna Ogrin, Jane Farmer, Abby C. King

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In this Perspective, we address the critical intersection of digital health, social connection, and health equity. Taking an interdisciplinary and complex adaptive systems perspective, we highlight evidence-based digital solutions to improve social connection and inclusion and, consequently, health outcomes. We describe actionable strategies for ensuring that digital health innovations benefit all, highlighting how user-centered design can address diverse needs, particularly for structurally disadvantaged populations.

Slushies Before School: Exploring How Nearby Food Outlets Impact The Eating Behaviours Of Secondary Students In Perth, Western Australia, Sharonna Mossenson, Klug, Joelie Mandzufas, Jacinta Francis, Siobhan Hickling, Lukar Thornton, Gina Trapp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The external school food environment, comprising food outlets and marketing near schools, shapes what young people eat. Yet little is known about how Australian adolescents perceive and navigate these environments. Focus groups were conducted with 31 school students (Years 7–12) from Perth, Western Australia, to explore their experiences of the external school food environment and its influence on their food-related behaviours. Transcripts were thematically analysed and six themes were identified. Accessibility emphasised proximity, transport links, opening hours and speed of service, with older students using outlets as social spaces. Availability of slushies, energy drinks, snacks and fast-food meal deals influenced …

Temptation At The School Fence: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Impact Of External Food Outlets On The School Community, Sharonna Mossenson, Klug, Jacinta Francis, Siobhan Hickling, Lukar Thornton, Gina Trapp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Retail food outlets are commonly located in close proximity to schools, providing students with opportunities to purchase and consume food enroute to or from school. These outlets are typically unhealthy and disproportionately clustered near schools, and this trend has been increasing over time. While quantitative studies have established associations between school food environments and adolescent dietary behaviours, little is known about how school personnel perceive and experience their impacts. This qualitative study explored perspectives of school personnel (n = 9) from a secondary school in Perth, Western Australia, located 150 m from two retail food precincts (areas with a high …

The Effect Of School-Based Educational Session On Knowledge, Attitudes, And Beliefs Of Cervical Cancer Among Adolescents In Mixed Day High Schools In Embu County: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Lucy W. Kivuti-Bitok, Mugo, Dorothy Mituki, Christine Marete, Irene Ngune, Jessica Wells

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: School-based interventions have proven effective in enhancing knowledge and altering attitudes toward cervical cancer among adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a school-based educational intervention on the attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of cervical cancer among adolescents in mixed-day high schools in Embu County. Methods: This study used a single-group, repeated cross-sectional design to assess the effect of a structured health education session on cervical cancer among adolescent boys and girls in mixed-gender secondary schools. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was administered before and immediately after the post-intervention. The education session lasted 30–45 min, and the study population …

Implementation And Effectiveness Of A Food Education Intervention To Promote Plant-Based Foods: A Partially Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial, Henna Vepsäläinen, Satu Kinnunen, Sari Niinistö, Leena Forma, Suvi T. Itkonen, Tuuli E. Korhonen, Liisa Korkalo, Heli Kuusipalo, Jelena Meinilä, Kaija Nissinen, Susanna Raulio, Ros Sambell, Mari Åkerlund, Suvi M. Virtanen, Maijaliisa Erkkola

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Legumes can substitute for meat and are thus a particularly important food group for environmental sustainability. As the use of legumes among Finnish children is marginal, there is potential for a substantial increase in their consumption. However, food education delivered through early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings has rarely focused specifically on environmentally sustainable foods, such as legumes. This study describes the implementation and effectiveness of an ECEC-delivered food education intervention within the FoodStep study. Methods: The partially cluster-randomized FoodStep intervention aimed to increase the supply of vegetables, legumes, fruits, berries, and sustainable fish while reducing the provision …

Local Government Policies Restricting Unhealthy Outdoor Food Advertising In Australia: Stakeholder Perspectives Identify Political Willingness Is Key To Overcoming Barriers, Alexia Bivoltsis, Frith Klug, Jacinta Francis, Clare Whitton, Gina S.A. Trapp, Claire E. Pulker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Unhealthy outdoor food advertising is strongly linked to poor diet, highlighting the need for policies. Western Australian (WA) local governments (LGs) can restrict advertising on their owned infrastructure through their Public Health Plans, but limited policy action has occurred. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of WA LGs and public health organizations (PHOs) on current and potential policies restricting unhealthy outdoor food advertising on LG owned infrastructure to (1) identify barriers and enablers to the policy making process, (2) assess the current level of political willingness (i.e. political want, political can and political must) and (3) inform development …

Living Next Door To Mcdonald’S: A Qualitative Study Of Community Submissions And Resident Realities Pre- And Post Development, Roslyn Giglia, Jacinta Francis, Jana Buckle, Clare Whitton, Ros Sambell, Frith Klug, Lukar Thornton, Siobhan Hickling, Katherine Kent, Gina Trapp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The proliferation of fast-food outlets (FFOs) in residential areas has raised growing concerns about their impact on community health, safety, and wellbeing. This qualitative study examined both pre-development community consultation submissions and post-development resident experiences surrounding the development of a McDonald’s outlet in a newly established suburb on the urban fringe of Perth, Western Australia (WA). Methods: Using a qualitative descriptive design, the study analyzed 183 community submissions lodged with the local council prior to development and conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 residents living within 300 m of the outlet after construction. Results: Content analysis revealed strong opposition, with …

Recommendations From Health Research For Children And Adolescents Living In The Kimberley Region Of Western Australia: A Scoping Review, Lisa Cannon, Elizabeth J. Elliott, Andrew Dossetor, Tracey W. Tsang, Md Irteja Islam, Alexandra L. Martiniuk, Habiba Naanai, Tuguy Esgin, Emily Carter, Lauren J. Rice

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Aboriginal leaders in Western Australia’s Kimberley region have voiced concern that research conducted on their lands is not being adequately used to inform meaningful change. Objective: This scoping review, grounded in an Aboriginal-academic partnership, identifies the child and adolescent health-related research conducted in the region and summarises the authors’ recommendations for knowledge translation. Methods: Drawing on PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases for publications between January 1967 and June 2025, focusing on children aged ≤ 18 years. Data extraction was conducted using Covidence, and publications were categorised based on the International Classification of Diseases (11th …

Integrating Public Health Into Communication Sciences And Disorders Curriculum, Whitney D. Perkins, Yalanda M. Barner, Jennifer Wiles, Brandi Newkirk-Turner

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The field of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is increasingly integrating public health into its practice and research. This is because less than 10% of speech-language pathology and audiology graduate programs are housed within Colleges or Schools of Public Health (PH), reducing the likelihood that students in CSD have the opportunity for coursework and co-curricular activities that integrate PH and CSD. In this paper, we discuss the holistic approach we used to integrate PH into a CSD program at a Historically Black University. The approach was guided by PH and CSD accreditation standards and involved a didactic course, CSD courses …

Cost Analysis Of Integrated Genderaffirming And Sexual Health Services For Transgender Women In Thailand: Evidence From The Tangerine Clinic, Braprut Sawatwipachai, Kunncadah Anuwong, Nittaya Phanuphak, Rena Janamnuaysook, Kritima Samitpol, Sujin Nitadpakorn

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Transgender women experience a disproportionate burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) globally and in Thailand. Integrating gender-affirming care into sexual health services may improve uptake of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) testing, treatment, and prevention. Cost data are essential to inform program planning and policy decisions regarding inclusion of such services within Thailand’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) system.
Objectives: To estimate the full and unit costs of trans-led, integrated gender-affirming and sexual health services along the HIV care cascade.
Methods: Costs of Tangerine Clinic services in 2021 were assessed from the provider perspective, using standard and activity-based costing …

Defining Evidence-Based Practices From A Practitioner Perspective: An Analysis Of How The Peer Assisted School Transition (P.A.S.T.) Project Fits Within The Evidence-Based Practices Continuum, Afiya King, Hillarie Wise, Nakia Cross, Donna Dent, Andrew Jordan Williamson, Maysa Osman, Carlos A O Pavao

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: This study examines the implementation and evaluation of the Peer Assisted School Transition (P.A.S.T.) Project, an evidence-informed, peer-led intervention designed to prevent substance misuse among youth during key educational transitions. The study explores the effectiveness of the program in strengthening protective factors, reducing risk factors, and enhancing skills related to substance misuse prevention.

Methods: A mixed-methods evaluation design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through pre- and post-surveys administered to fifth- and eighth-grade students to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Qualitative data were collected through focus groups, interviews, and observations to provide contextual insight into program implementation …

Precision Approaches Improve Community Health, Roger A. Rennekamp, David Buys

Journal of Extension

Recent advances in data science provide Extension practitioners with access to data sorted by zip code, census tract, or neighborhood. Such hyper-local data now allows Extension personnel to assess community needs and assets at a more granular level and focus their work on the people and communities of greatest need. In this article, we introduce an approach we refer to as precision public health. Using such a precision approach to community assessment and, ultimately, programming can save money, increase the likelihood of producing measurable results, and create more manageable workloads for county-based Extension personnel.

The Long-Term Effects Of Covid-19 On Pulmonary Function, Emily Russell, Chris Russian, Kevin Collins

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of hospitalizations and significant long-term health consequences. While acute COVID-19 symptoms are well-documented, the long-term pulmonary effects remain incompletely understood, particularly in patients with mild or asymptomatic infections. This review examines the long-term effects of COVID-19 on pulmonary function, including spirometry, lung volumes, diffusion capacity, and related outcomes such as exercise capacity and quality of life. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using CINAHL Ultimate, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases, yielding 10 articles for review (6 cohort studies, 3 review articles, and 1 systematic review and meta-analysis). Studies were assessed for …

Piloting The Strong Bodies Strength Training Program In Utah, Gabriela Murza, Jenna Dyckman, Cris Meier, Emma Parkhurst, Sadie Wilde, Christina Pay, Naomi Brower, Cindy Nelson

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Muscle and bone loss occurs as we age, impacting health and independence. We evaluated a pilot 12-week strength training program for older adults in Utah. Participants showed improved fitness metrics and increased confidence. Results demonstrate the program’s effectiveness and public value in expanding access to evidence-based exercise that supports healthy aging.

Mda Public Relations Grant Program Opens Applications For 2026 Cycle, Timothy Rath

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The Michigan Dental Association is opening applications for its 2026 Public Relations Grant Program, offering individual grants of up to $5,000, with $30,000 in total funding, to support component dental societies. The program funds creative community-focused initiatives scheduled for 2027 that educate the public and promote oral health, excluding purely charitable clinical care. Eligible projects emphasize relationship-building and community engagement. Highlighted success stories from previous cycles include oral health kit distributions, youth-focused educational events, and the expansion of the 'Give Kids A Smile' exams and preventive care clinics across Michigan.

Beyond The Binary: Strengthening Nursing Students’ Proficiency Of Equitable Health Promotion, Martha K. Findley

Theses

Background: Sexual and gender diverse (SGD) populations continue to experience significant health inequities, yet prelicensure nursing curricula often lack structured, evidence‑based training to prepare students for equitable care.

Purpose: This study evaluated whether a targeted, transgender‑focused simulation could improve nursing students’ clinical knowledge and preparedness for providing equitable health promotion to SGD populations.

Methods: A pre‑/post‑intervention design was used with senior‑level nursing students who completed a transgender patient simulation emphasizing communication, assessment, and equitable health promotion. Students completed a validated survey measuring knowledge and preparedness in caring for SGD patients.

Results: Significant improvements across most survey items demonstrated that the …

Validation Of A Home-Based Tool For Preschool Children Fall Prevention: A Rasch Analysis, Devie Fitri Octaviani, Fatma Lestari, Indang Trihandini, Dadan Erwandi

Kesmas

Unintentional falls are a leading cause of injury among preschool children, primarily occurring in home environments, yet validated tools to assess household fall prevention capacity in low- and middle-income countries remain limited. This study aimed to develop and psychometrically validate the Home-Based Preschool Fall Prevention Instrument using the Rasch Measurement Model. A cross-sectional validation study was conducted in Depok City, Indonesia, involving 167 primary caregivers of preschool children enrolled in kindergartens selected through multistage cluster random sampling. The instrument was developed based on an etiological injury model, socio-ecological perspectives, and risk management principles, and comprised four main factors: child, home, …

Understanding Oral Habits And Malocclusion In School-Aged Children: Insights From Parental And Child Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices, Maria Laurentia Sanjaya, Evan Raditya Pratomo, Markus Santoso, Agrippine Putricia Asaeli, Eveline Yulia Darmadi, Joy Janny Thenarianto, Jennifer Regina Putri Purwono, Eunike Jacquelyn Widarto

Kesmas

Malocclusion is a prevalent oral health problem in children associated with oral bad habits, yet the extent to which parental and child knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) influence orthodontic status remains insufficiently understood. This cross-sectional study investigated relationships between parental and child KAP, oral habits, and malocclusion in school-aged children, involving 67 child–parent pairs from an elementary school in Surabaya, Indonesia. Parental and child KAP as well as child-reported oral habits were assessed using a validated questionnaire. Children subsequently underwent standardized clinical orthodontic examinations, including alginate jaw impressions to produce dental study models, which were evaluated using the Index of …