Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons^™

Does A Program That Focuses On Lifestyle Changes Reduce Heart Disease Risk Factors In A Rural Community?, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Interventions like HeartHealth—that focus on self-care of heart disease risk factors and that are driven by collaboration with the community of interest—are effective in medically underserved, socioeconomically distressed rural areas.

El Programa Ampliado De Inmunización (Pai) Y La Confianza En La Vacunación De La Población En Argentina: Estudio De Caso En La Vacunación Contra El Virus Del Papiloma Humano (Vph). The Expanded Program On Immunization (Epi) And Vaccine Confidence In Argentina’S Population: A Case Study On The Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) Vaccine., Ana Tiscareño

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

En este estudio, se realizó una exploración del Programa Ampliado de Inmunización (PAI) en Argentina y como sus estrategias afectan los motivos a vacunarse o no en el país. Con un sistema de salud universal y gratuito, la gente en Argentina tiene el derecho a la salud que incluye la vacunación gratuita y obligatoria. Pero en el campo de la inmunización, no hay estudios sobre los otros factores que llevaban a las personas a adherir o no a la vacunación. Para cumplir los objetivos de la investigación, se utilizó un abordaje descriptivo cualitativo con un análisis de fuentes secundarias y …

Development And Refinement Of A Corner-Based Injury Prevention Programme For Latino Day Labourers, Andrew E Springer, Yesmel King, Craig Field, Martha Alicia Ojeda, Louis Brown, Celeste Monforton, Rodrigo Hernandez, Pamela Diamond, John Atkinson, Maria Eugenia Fernández-Esquer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Latino day labourers (LDLs) in the USA are at increased risk for non-fatal and fatal occupational injuries, which are compounded by stressors that include wage theft, job insecurity and discrimination. This paper describes the development and refinement of Vales+Tú (You are Worthy of More), an injury prevention programme currently being evaluated as part of a cluster randomised trial in which health promotion is taken directly to the 'corners' (e.g. street corners, home improvement store parking lots, and public parks) where workers gather to seek employment.

DESIGN: Vales+Tú comprises two corner-based intervention approaches, group problem-solving (small group discussions) and brief …

Universal Health Coverage: A Basis For Pandemic Preparedness?, Merline Feero

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Amid extensive research and reporting on the effects of COVID-19 on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) progress, this study explores an often neglected topic: the potential of UHC to contribute to the foundations of pandemic preparedness. Herein, quantitative analysis reveals that countries with higher UHC coverage tend to exhibit greater pandemic preparedness (as determined by the UHC Service Coverage Index and the Global Health Security Index). Complementary qualitative analysis is used to further illustrate and explain the correlation between UHC and pandemic preparedness using four case study countries, integrating literature reviews and relevant expert interviews. Through these methods, a clear tie …

Association Of Parkinson’S Disease Status With Accelerometer-Derived Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior In Older Women: The Women’S Health Study (Whs)), Jennifer L Hale, Gregory Knell, Michael D Swartz, Eric J Shiroma, Terry Ellis, I-Min Lee, Kelley Pettee Gabriel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Evidence suggests that individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD) spend less time in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) compared to those without PD. However, prior studies primarily included men and did not consider movement across the entire intensity spectrum. To address these gaps, the association of PD status with total volume physical activity and time spent in sedentary, low light-intensity physical activity (LLPA), high light-intensity physical activity (HLPA), and MVPA among older women was examined. This is a cross-sectional analysis of 17,466 ambulatory women enrolled in the Women's Health Study (WHS) with a median (IQR) age of 70 (67-75) years …

Climate Change, Malnutrition, And Hiv: The Impact Of Food Insecurity On Hiv Response In Sub-Saharan Africa, Olivia Walshak

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Climate change is a key driver of an unprecedented global food crisis, exacerbated by rising temperatures and the vulnerability of crop yields. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly susceptible, and case studies demonstrate the fragility of food systems in the region, leading to severe food insecurity and famine in the face of climate shocks.

There are a variety of health implications, particularly the syndemic relationship between malnutrition and HIV. HIV interacts bidirectionally with malnutrition, creating a vicious cycle of poor clinical outcomes. Expanding access to antiretroviral therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa is hindered by rampant food insecurity, including inadequate food intake, reduced dietary …

A Comparative Analysis Of Adolescent Pregnancy Patient Outcomes In The United States And United Kingdom Healthcare Systems, Liza Hopper

Senior Theses

Individuals all across the world should have equal access to healthcare. However, one’s ability to receive and afford quality care differs between countries. Comparing the differences in healthcare structures in both the UK and the US provides great insight into how certain welfare models affect patient outcomes. In this project, I discuss the functionality of the healthcare systems in the UK and the US. Then, by delving into how they relate to adolescent pregnancy patient outcomes, one can compare how the healthcare policies relate to the patient outcomes of a vulnerable population group. In both countries, adolescent mothers, those who …

Evaluation Of Inactivated Avian Influenza Virus And Newcastle Disease Virus Bivalent Vaccination Program Against Newly Circulated H5n8 And Ndv Strains, Ahmed A Azab, Nahed Yehia, Mohamed Makhareta, Mahmoud Samir, Abdelrahman Shoukry, Ahmed Abd Elhalem Mohamed, Sadeq K Alhag, Afaf S Alwabli, Mohamed T El-Saadony, Khaled A El-Tarabily, Mohamed A Soliman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Avian influenza virus (AIV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) are respiratory illness syndromes that have recently been detected in vaccinated flocks and are causing major financial losses in the chicken farming industry. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of Valley Vac H5Plus NDVg7 vaccine in protecting chickens against the H5N8 and NDV strains that have recently been circulating in comparison with the efficacy of the commercially available bivalent H5+ND7 vaccine. In contrast to the H5+ND7 vaccine, which was made of genetically distinct H5N8/2018 clade 2.3.4.4b genotype group (G5), H9N2/2016, H5N1/2017, and genetically comparable NDV genotype VII 1.1/2019 of the …

Dietary Intake And Quality Among Stroke Survivors: Nhanes 1999-2018, Erika R Zoellner, Mindy A Patterson, Anjail Z Sharrief, Sean I Savitz, Wesley J Tucker, Derek C Miketinas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Nutrition is an important modifiable risk factor for prevention and treatment of stroke. However, examination of nutrient intake and diet quality in stroke survivors is limited.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate usual nutrient intake and diet quality in US adults with and without a history of self-reported stroke.

Methods: Using US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018, we analyzed demographics, health history, and dietary intake data in 1626 individuals with a history of stroke matched for age, gender, and survey cycle to respective controls (n=1621) with no history of stroke. A minimum of …

Associations Between Metabolomic Biomarkers Of Avocado Intake And Glycemia In The Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis, Alexis C Wood, Mark O Goodarzi, Mackenzie K Senn, Meghana D Gadgil, Goncalo Graca, Matthew A Allison, Ioanna Tzoulaki, Michael Y Mi, Philip Greenland, Timothy Ebbels, Paul Elliott, Russell P Tracy, David M Herrington, Jerome I Rotter

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Avocado consumption is linked to better glucose homeostasis, but small associations suggest potential population heterogeneity. Metabolomic data capture the effects of food intake after digestion and metabolism, thus accounting for individual differences in these processes.

OBJECTIVES: To identify metabolomic biomarkers of avocado intake and to examine their associations with glycemia.

METHODS: Baseline data from 6224 multi-ethnic older adults (62% female) included self-reported avocado intake, fasting glucose and insulin, and untargeted plasma proton nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomic features (metabolomic data were available for a randomly selected subset; N = 3438). Subsequently, incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) was assessed over an …

Quality Improvement Project To Increase Hepatitis C Virus Screening For Ambulatory Gme Internal Medicine Clinic Patients, Nghia Nguyen, Karrar Al Gburi, Arturo Suplee, Jarrad Mcadams, Serag Fares, Carol Soler, Ans Albustamy, Jorge Alejandro Bernal, Sumandeep Brar, J. Paredes

Research Symposium

Background: In 2020, CDC established new guideline expanding Hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening to all adults aged 18 to 79 years. Our QI project objective is to enhance HCV screening amongst the UTRGV-DHR IM department by establishing suitable reminders and educational sessions.

Methods: We reviewed HCV screening status of all adult patients 18 to 79 years old from June 1^st 2020 to December 1^st 2020. We then provided one lecture on the new screening recommendation from CDC 2020 guideline. We also encouraged residents to educate patients on the importance of HCV screening, and to identify and overcome barriers …

Project: Center For Diabetes And Metabolism [Centro De Diabetes Y Metabolismo: Cedimet], A Collaborative Dream Comes True, Claudia Munguia-Cisneros, Edith Cantu, Carlos Ramirez-Pfeiffer, Adriana L. Perales-Torres, Esperanza M. Garcia-Oropeza, Estrella Y. Martinez-Lopez, Alvaro Diaz-Badillo, Joselin Hernandez-Ruiz, Alberto O. Chavez-Velazquez, Lucia M. Perez-Navarro, Beatriz Tapia, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Reynosa urban area has 690,000 inhabitants (384,000 adults >20 years old), 35% moved from other states. The use of cell phones is in 81%, personal computer or laptop with 29%. The prevalence of overweight is 39%, obesity 36%, and T2D 13%. The expected adult population with T2D is 49,900 individuals. The are 5 clinics prepared to attend T2D, and few with specialized personnel.

The CeDiMet is a collaborative clinic involving health personnel and researchers from the Universidad Mexico Americana del Norte, Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas, Hospital General de Mexico “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and the …

Learners Engaging With Hispanic Communities To Address Covid19 Inequities By Developing A Cultural Competence Guide For Public Health Messaging, Madeline Elaine Huff, Molly Chapman, Chasity Collier, Giuiseppe Fonseca Badillo, Shuchita Jhaveri, Ayesha Khan, Sabrina R. Orta, Zuni Ortega, Lina Pedraza Sanchez, Maria Pesantez Borja, Rosalind Reyes, Daniela Santos Cantu, Chelsea H. Chang

Research Symposium

Introduction: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) has the highest rates of obesity and diabetes nationwide which have compounded the impact of COVID-19. We propose addressing underlying mistrust and systemic racism through a resident-and-student-learner-led, community-engaged, educational public health campaign targeting the Hispanic community in the RGV.

Methods: Twelve students were provided interdisciplinary leadership skills in a community-engaged public messaging campaign covering issues of COVID-19 inequities. Learners used these skills to engage with clinic community partners in qualitative interviews regarding the patient population to guide the creation of a culturally competent public health messaging rubric for the Hispanic community.

Results: Pre-intervention survey …

Expanding Health Professional Education In The Rio Grande Valley During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sabrina R. Orta, Samantha G. Alvarado, Shuchita Jhaveri

Research Symposium

Purpose: The COVID-19 Pandemic has prompted innovation in health professional education, such that learners are able to recognize and mitigate healthcare disparities in the outcomes of vulnerable populations. The objective of our project was to increase education on preventing, preparing for, and responding to COVID-19 and other locally prevalent infectious diseases that disproportionately affect RGV communities.

Description: This project had 3 goals: (1) provide learners with virtual patient-interaction simulations (2) provide interactive training modules on the identification, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases affecting South TX and strategies to increase child vaccinations, and (3) provide learners an opportunity to coordinate …

The Eyes Beyond The Screen: Digital Media Policy And Child Health, Yahia Al-Qudah

Research Symposium

Background: Modern communication technology and digital media have provided society with a foundation for instant messaging. Pictures, videos, and texts connect individuals with families, friends, and the world. Consequently, digital media has accelerated exposure to risk in which children and adolescents are most vulnerable. This project’s objective is to 1) congregate and highlight current knowledge about the impact of digital media on child health, and 2) underline deficiencies in related laws and regulations as well as offer solutions in digital media policy.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted through the JAMA Pediatrics database with keywords such as “digital media,” …

Implementation Of A Training Module On Alcohol Prevention For Promotoras On A Border Community In The Rio Grande Valley., Noe Garza, J Escareno, Alvaro Diaz-Badillo, Ihsan Salloum

Research Symposium

Background: Complications due to unhealthy alcohol use are widely spread, and there is a significant unmet need for prevention and treatment in the community. The South Texas-Mexico border region consists of over ninety percent of Hispanics and suffers from a significant shortage of physicians. Alcohol-related problems are highly unrecognized and untreated in this large Hispanic population due to the shortage of healthcare providers, low education levels, and limited trust in the health care system. Prevention efforts should be designed to prevent or reduce the risk of developing alcohol addiction.

Methods: The proposed module focuses on enhancing the Promotoras or Community …

Critical Reflection In Practice: Generating Knowledge From The Interactions With Promotores For Engagement In Neurocognitive Disorders, Noe Garza, Ney Alliey-Rodriguez, Rosa V. Pirela, Gladys E. Maestre

Research Symposium

Background: Colonias are underserved areas along the Texas-Mexico border, with high incidences of neurocognitive disorders, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our goal is to build capacity to reduce risk, facilitate treatment for affected individuals, and provide caregiver support. Our aim was to construct an approach that was reflective and would reveal the rich and diverse ways in which people make meaning of their experiences and interactions with scientists, faculty, staff and students.

Methods: We examined our work with local community health workers. (CHWs), promotores in Spanish, to establish contact with, engage, mobilize, and educate the Hispanic communities of the Lower …

Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary And Behavioral Healthcare (I2pbh) Initiative, John Ronnau, Deepu George, Maria Hernandez, Evan Garcia, Myrna Ruiz

Research Symposium

Purpose: The Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary and Behavioral Healthcare (I²PBH) initiative will train University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) mental health graduates to deliver high quality, evidence-based Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) services in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) – a high-need, high-demand, medically underserved Hispanic region along the US-Mexico border. Specifically, the I²PBH initiative will train 24 UTRGV mental health graduates annually to deliver high-quality Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) clinical services through the evidence based Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model. With a training emphasis on basic/advanced theory and clinical skills in the PCBH model, students …

Clinical Characteristics And Risk Factors For Mortality During The 'First Wave' Of Covid-19 In Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Luis G. Vargas Garcia, Francisco E. Díaz Cisneros, Antonio Gutiérrez Sierra, Juan Rosales Martínez, Manlio F. Lara Duck, Netzahualcoyotl Mayek Pérez

Research Symposium

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted public health in Mexico. As of February 2020, there have been at least four "waves" of contagion that resulted in 5.82 million positive cases and more than 325 thousand deaths. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital and population-based information was available, frequently with non-specific symptoms. Little was known about the risk factors for mortality in specific conditions. We described the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 in Reynosa, Tamaulipas during 2020 and identified the risk factors for mortality.

Methods: The COVID-19 cases registered from March to November 2020 in Reynosa were divided …

Comparing Stroke Symptom Recognition And Intervention Times In The Rio Grande Valley, Joshua M. Ninan, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

This is a retrospective study that aims to evaluate the duration from onset of stroke-like symptoms to presentation to medical facilities for aid in the Rio Grande Valley. The main goal of the study is to understand the extent of pre-hospital delays with regards to the treatment of stroke in the RGV.