Community Health Commons^™

Women And Healthcare In Appalachia: Impeding Circumstance And The Role Of Technology, Ashley Cano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For decades, healthcare access and quality in central and southern Appalachia have trailed the rest of the country. Entrenched poverty and low educational attainment compound healthcare problems. This study examines the healthcare obstacles women encounter in southern and central Appalachia and analyzes how technology use, such as Internet searching and social media affect women’s healthcare decisions. Data were analyzed from four focus groups conducted with women from the region. Results indicate that seeing a physician or not did not influence women’s propensity to search the Internet for health-related information or to seek support through social media sites. Additionally, women reported …

Using Sbirt As An Intervention For Substance Use In Public Schools, Amanda Higgins

Honors Theses

In Kalamazoo County, youth substance use is on the rise. In recent years (2012-2014), alcohol use has nearly doubled in the adolescent population. With the easy accessibility of alcohol in Kalamazoo, alcohol use among adolescents will continue to rise if early intervention protocols are not implemented. Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), could be the model of intervention within Kalamazoo public schools, if implemented correctly. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), SBIRT is an evidence-based practice used to identify, reduce, and prevent problematic use, abuse, and dependence on alcohol and illicit drugs. Public …

Improving The State Of Health Literacy Among American Adults: Why Community Outreach Methods Are More Effective Than Literacy-Level Screenings, Lydia Simpson

Honors Theses

Health literacy refers to an individual’s ability to access and process health information to make important decisions about their health. Unfortunately, millions of American adults have inadequate health literacy skills and are not able to navigate their way through the world of health care. This may lead to disastrous consequences and poor health outcomes. To improve health literacy, nationwide health education programs are imperative. Despite this, low health literacy is often ignored, or only considered for individuals suspected of having low health literacy who might then be administered a screening instrument. A better model for the American health care system …

Women-Only Workout Hours, Kay Mackinnon

Research Methods - Posters

This study explores female students’ preferences for a women-only section or hours at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) Student Recreation Center (SRC)

Un Análisis Post-Colonial: La Encarnación De La Pérdida Histórica En La Manifestación De Depresión En Personas Mapuche En El Contexto Urbano, Haley Case

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Esta investigación buscaba evaluar las manifestaciones cualitativas y simbólicas de la depresión en la población Mapuche de la región de Santiago a través de la aplicación de teoría que aborda del sufrimiento social y la violencia estructural. Métodos etnográficos se fueron utilizados por la realización de observaciones y entrevistas semi-estructuradas con personas involucradas en la comunidad Mapuche y el sistema de salud biomédico en las comunas de La Pintana y Lampa en la Región Metropolitana. Según la cosmovisión Mapuche, la salud tiene base fundamental en la armonización del cuerpo, alma, espíritu y mente de un ser humano con su familia, …

All Things New: A Holistic Theology Of Major Depression And Pastoral Care, T. S. Giovanetto

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Dissertation Notice:

M.A. Thesis, Trinity International University, 2015.

Full Text of the Thesis available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

This study approaches the topic of mental illness within the church, integrating biblical theology and clinical psychology to propose a model of pastoral care for the severely depressed. Examining the history of distrust between the church and the social sciences, and criticizing prominent models of pastoral care built upon the chastisement of mentally ill individuals, the thesis proposes a model of care built upon the acceptance and validation of persons facing psychological distress. In this model, ministers teach sufferers to …

An Analysis Of Women’S Access To Acute Opioid Detoxification Services In Maine: Identifying The Barriers To Treatment, Karen E. Conley

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The lack of treatment facilities and services for opioid use disorder in Maine, combined with an increased prevalence of addiction, creates a potential for health inequity between men and women that may be intensified by barriers in access to care. This capstone study utilized detoxification screening inquiry forms and data obtained from the Milestone Foundation’s acute opioid detoxification program to assess and categorize barriers to access by gender. A barriers model was developed based on existing literature and was to identify potential associations among and between the known barriers to accessing treatment. Barriers were described as internally or externally based, …

The Relationship Between Physical Activity And Diet And Young Children's Cognitive Development: A Systematic Review, Pooja S. Tandon, Alison Tovar, Avanthi T. Jayasuriya, Emily Welker, Daniel J. Schober, Kristen Copeland, Dipti A. Dev, Ashleigh L. Murriel, Dima Amso, Dianne S. Ward

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Objective. Given the high prevalence of suboptimal nutrition and low activity levels in children, we systematically reviewed the literature on the relationship between physical activity and dietary patterns and cognitive development in early childhood (six months to five years).

Methods. In February 2016, we conducted two different searches of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and ERIC. Each search included either physical activity (including gross motor skills) or diet terms, and neurocognitive development outcome terms. Included studies were in English, published since 2005, and of any study design in which the physical activity or diet measure occurred prior to age five.

Results. For physical …

A Systematic Review Of Coal Fired Power Plant Proximity And Local Socioeconomic Status Trends And Outcomes, Oshane Mcrae, Peter Lapuma

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Among the significant sources of energy, coal based energy bears the largest share (42%) of the electricity produced in the United States. Already existing coal fired power plants are the largest emitter of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. Among the cumulative emissions contributed by the industrial sector, significant portions are from coal fired power plants. Coal-fired power plants emit 66% of sulfur oxides, 40% of carbon dioxide, 33% of mercury and 22% of nitrogen oxides in the U.S. and are linked as risk factors to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and other ailments shown to impact environmental and human …

Client Satisfaction Survey For Hiv/Aids Dental Care Services: An Example From Rural Texas, H. Stephen Cooper Ph.D., Lcsw, Freddie L. Avant Ph.D., Lmsw-Ap, Acsw, C-Ssws, Kim L. Rich-Rice Ph.D., Lmsw-Ipr

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

The challenges to examining client satisfaction are demonstrated through an evaluation of dental services provided by a regional service provider to people living with HIV/AIDS. The process of developing and administering a measure of client satisfaction is discussed. Forty-one of 350 (11.7%) dental clients chose to participate. Quantitative and qualitative data suggests that overall participants are satisfied with services. Identified concerns included a lack of specialized dental, medical, mental health, and case management services. Implications of the study for service delivery, future evaluations, and rural social work practice are addressed.

Wic Participation As A Risk Factor For Loss To Follow-Up In The Wisconsin Ehdi System, Elizabeth L. Seeliger, Rebecca A. Martin, Andrea N. Gromoske, Anne B. Harris

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

In 2011, Wisconsin’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program, Wisconsin Sound Beginnings (WSB), developed multiple strategies to reduce loss to follow-up (LTFU) for babies who did not pass their newborn hearing screening: Medical Outreach, Family Outreach, Regional Outreach and WIC Alert. WSB evaluated the outcomes of babies identified as at-risk for LTFU to determine whether WIC participation was an indicator of their risk for LTFU. Additionally, WSB evaluated whether babies who were identified as at-risk for LTFU and receiving WIC services in two WIC projects serving areas and populations with known health disparities, were at even greater risk for …

Multilevel Analysis Of Individual, Neighborhood, And Health Care Facility Characteristics Associated With Achievement And Maintenance Of Hiv Viral Suppression Among Persons Newly Diagnosed With Hiv In New York City, Ellen W. Wiewel

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Objective

To investigate the effect of individual, health care facility, and neighborhood characteristics on achievement and maintenance of HIV viral suppression, among New York City residents aged 13 years and older diagnosed with HIV between 2006 and 2012.

Methods

I used individual-level data from the New York City HIV surveillance registry and Case Surveillance-Based Sampling, facility-level data from the surveillance registry, and neighborhood-level data from the U.S. Census and American Community Survey. The outcomes of interest were first viral suppression after diagnosis (Aims 1 and 3; ≤400 copies/mL) and virologic failure after first suppression among persons who achieved suppression (Aim …

A Test Of Symmetry Based On The Kernel Kullback-Leibler Information With Application To Base Deficit Data, Hani M. Samawi, Robert L. Vogel

Biostatistics: Faculty Publications

The assumption of the symmetry of the underlying distribution is important to many statistical inference and modeling procedures. This paper provides a test of symmetry using kernel density estimation and the Kullback-Leibler information. Based on simulation studies, the new test procedure outperforms other tests of symmetry found in the literature, including the Runs Test of Symmetry. We illustrate our new procedure using real data.

Symptom Patterns Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Deaf Trauma Survivors, Melissa L. Anderson, Amanda Sortwell, Kelly S. Wolf Craig, Douglas M. Ziedonis

JADARA

Details about Deaf people’s pattern of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms remain relatively unknown due to inaccessible methods used in most epidemiological research. We conducted semi-structured American Sign Language interviews with 16 trauma-exposed Deaf individuals to explore their PTSD symptom patterns. Half met criteria for current PTSD, a rate higher than the general population. Underlying this disparity may be heightened rates of dissociation and psychogenic amnesia reported by many Deaf trauma survivors. Future research with large samples of Deaf survivors is needed to clarify this hypothesis, and to inform interventions that more accurately target Deaf people’s pattern of trauma symptoms.

It’S A Relationship: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Challenges To Interorganizational Collaborative Relationships, Morgan E. Braganza

Luther Faculty Publications

Interorganizational collaboration is increasingly used to address social issues, but it can fail when the underlying relationships become damaged. This study explores the qualities, characteristics, and processes that can fracture collaborative relationships and the consequences of failing to correct these fractures. Using a qualitative design, interview data were collected from 19 executive directors of Canadian human service organizations. The findings highlight several challenges to collaboration and show the importance of exploring negative outcomes of inaction. An additional aim of this study is to provide strategies for building and nurturing collaborative relationships.

Los Riesgos Sobre La Salud De Los Trabajadores Inmigrantes Bolivianos En Los Talleres Textiles En La Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires: Las Experiencias De Los Trabajadores De La Cooperativa La Alameda / The Health Risks Of Bolivian Immigrant Workers In Textile Workshops In The Autonomous City Of Buenos Aires: The Experiences Of Workers At Cooperative La Alameda, Marian Gardner

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Los bolivianos inmigran a Argentina para escapar de la falta de oportunidades laborales y de la pobreza. Sin embargo, una vez en Argentina, su inserción laboral es precaria e informal, principalmente, son contratados en los talleres textiles clandestinos. En éstos , donde la mayoría de ellos también vive, se ven reducidos a condiciones de servidumbre, explotación y son sometidos a condiciones de semi esclavitud, como lo demuestran las 14 a 18 horas de trabajo que realizan los siete días de la semana por sólo alrededor de $ 1300 a $ 3000 pesos argentinos por mes. Además, las condiciones laborales suponen …

Hiv/Aids Care And Prevention Infrastructure In The U.S. Deep South, Susan S. Reif, Kristen Sullivan, Elena Wilson, Miriam Berger, Carolyn Mcallaster

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

North Minneapolis Residents' Knowledge And Awareness Of Indoor Air Quality In Older Residences, Blisse Marie Cajacob

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Older housing stock is one suspected cause of poor indoor air quality and poor indoor air quality can cause many negative health conditions. Four hazardous conditions related to indoor air quality were examined for this study: lead, asbestos, dampness causing mold and radon. North Minneapolis residents, specifically low-income, disproportionately live in older stock houses and have higher rates of asthma compared to other parts of the state. In this study, data was collected to understand North Minneapolis residents' knowledge and awareness of indoor air quality in older residences. Fifteen minute interviews followed by a brief sociodemographic questionnaire were used to …

Family Aided Community Treatment For The Treatment Of Early Psychosis: A Proof Of Concept Study, Ryan P. Melton, Cass Dykeman

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

Major psychotic disorders are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. If these conditions are identified early and treatment promptly implemented, the prognosis is improved. This study examined the impact of a yearlong family aided community treatment (FACT) intervention upon psychiatric symptoms. Psychiatric symptom scores improved with the FACT intervention. Improved training on early recognition for mental health clinicians, implementation of a specific treatment model in community settings and policy around treatment funding allocation are implications of this study.

Experiences Of Victimization And Health Care Access Among Non-Metropolitan Lgbtq+ Individuals, Ashley-Ann Marcotte

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals report substantial rates of violence, discrimination, and negative life events due to homophobia and transphobia and these experiences impact access to health care services and programs (Bauer et al, 2009; Grant, Mottet, Tanis, Harrison, & Keisling, 2010) These experiences result in LGBTQ+ communities needing services, programs, and social supports to provide safer spaces. Although it is well recognized that health care services are not a major determinant of health outcomes and yet use more than 60% of health spending (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2014; Muzyka, Hodgson, & Prada, 2012). As such, …