Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons^™

Positive And Negative Deviant Counties: Identification Of Factors Associated With Health Outcomes, Olivia Egen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rural counties in the United States vary drastically on metrics related to socioeconomic status and dominant economic industry as well as health behaviors and outcomes. This study sought to understand the underlying structural reasons why some rural counties have better or worse than expected health outcomes using a positive deviance (PD) approach. The study aimed to: 1) create an area deprivation index and divide counties into quartiles using the index; 2) identify positive, negative, and non-deviant counties using health outcome metrics; 3) analyze differences between deviance on a variety of local public health system metrics; and 4) analyze differences between …

If A Tree Falls In The Forest: Presidential Press Conferences And Early Media Narratives About The Covid-19 Crisis, Masha Krupenkin, Kai Zhu, Dylan Walker, David Rothschild

Business Faculty Articles and Research

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, as we confronted questions about social distancing, masking wearing, and vaccines, public safety experts warned that the consequences of a misinformed population would be particularly dire due to the serious nature of the threat and necessity of severe collective action to keep the population safe. Thus, the media and the political elites (e.g., President of the United States) who possess the power to set the information agenda around COVID-19 bear a huge responsibility for the general welfare. Through automated text analysis of complete transcripts of national cable, network, and local news, we explore their narratives surrounding …

Eat Well, Be Well: Basic Needs Initiative's Online Hub For Nutrition Education, Misha Moseley

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Basic Needs Initiative at California State University, Monterey Bay is a department that provides students with food, housing, and wellness resources. Over half of the university's students experience food insecurity, and over 85% use non-academic resources to learn about nutrition. This project adds a dietary health section to the department’s website to increase students’ access to nutrition education. It addresses the micro-level agency problem that too few students eat a healthy, balanced diet. Unhealthy eating is a risk factor for food insecurity, so the project indirectly addresses the macro-level health problem that too many college students in California experience food …

Notice: Youth, Poc & Lgbtq+ Big Tobacco Wants You, Tucosha Lopez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Breathe California of the Bay Area, Golden Gate, and Central Coast is a 501(c)3 non-profit that works with local communities to fight lung disease. This capstone project was developed for the Tobacco Control Program and addressed how Big Tobacco disproportionately targets youth, people of color, and LGBTQ+. Less awareness of tobacco-related issues, targeted marketing schemes, and individual susceptibility to negative health behaviors result in addiction, decreased physical/mental health, and increased negative behaviors. The project was a 45-minute educational resource video to be published on the Breathe California YouTube channel. It consists of topics about the warning signs of nicotine addiction …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Healthcare Competency Training Delivery Methods, Vanessa Jennings

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Decades of research express the need to strengthen the trust between minority groups and the healthcare system through addressing and reducing cross-cultural miscommunication. Though Central Coast VNA and Hospice is a well-established organization, the rate at which underrepresented individuals (i.e., LatinX, Asian, African American, Pacific Islander) access their services is low. Issues contributing to the low number of underrepresented individuals include language barriers, a poorly structured system, and a lack of cultural competency training among the staff. The result is an underserved population, a failure to meet the agency’s mission, and a perpetuation of systemic racism. To address this problem, …

Parental Engagement To Influence Child Nutrition Habits, Mariah Van Ardenne

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Brighter Bites Salinas is a non-profit agency whose mission is to create healthy communities through fresh food. They do this by providing nutrition education to children and delivering free, fresh produce to parents. In the United States, obesity and food insecurity are common, intertwined issues among children. The contributing factors to these entangled issues are associated with living in poverty, acculturation of minority groups, and negative parental influence. The consequences of this include increased risk of chronic diseases, high-cost treatments, and mental health issues. This capstone project was created to positively engage parents in nutrition education to influence their children’s …

Peer Review/Ethics: How Can Our Office Be More Inclusive Of Transgender Patients?, Debra Peters Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

In this professional ethics article, Dr. Debra Peters of the ADA’s Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs addresses the need for dental teams to be more inclusive of transgender patients, emphasizing the challenges faced by transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals in accessing dental care. The article recommends providing training and resources for dental teams, highlighting the importance of first impressions and effective communication during patient interactions. Practical suggestions include incorporating affirmed name and gender options in registration forms, ensuring appropriate language in interactions, and addressing insurance claim discrepancies. The column promotes creating a respectful environment and cites the …

Covid-19’S Impact On Dental Practice: Managing With Less Support, Christopher J. Smiley Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial explores the impact of COVID-19 on dental practice, focusing on the challenges of managing with reduced support due to workforce shortages. The author shares personal experiences highlighting broader workforce realities, including stress, compensation concerns, and a desire for work-life balance contributing to the "Great Resignation." The dental field, already facing shortages, witnesses increased competition for skilled professionals, with corporate dentistry exacerbating the situation. The editorial discusses potential solutions, such as revising delegation rules, addressing relicensure barriers, and advocating for higher education funding. The lasting changes in dental practice administration and patient care delivery post-COVID-19, including potential shifts in …

J Mich Dent Assoc May 2022

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Monthly, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and feature articles to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists!

In this May 2022 issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• A feature on “Periodontal Disease and COVID-19"
• A cover feature introducing Dr. Vince Benivegna 2022-23 MDA President
• A 10-Minute EBD: “Charcoal Toothpastes Pose Risks with Few Benefits”
• A Professional Ethics article on “How Can Our Office be More Inclusive of Transgender Patients”
• News you need: an Editorial, a profile on Dr. Jessica Rikert, recipient of the …

Body Appreciation, Gender, Motivation, And Competitive Success In Competition Climbing, Marissa Frost

All Theses

The focus of this study was to examine the relation between the constructs of body appreciation, gender, motivation, and competitive success in competition climbers. To gather data for this study, a Qualtrics survey was created and distributed amongst the competition climbing community through USA Climbing’s Facebook page and member email list. Data was then collected from competition climbers between the ages of thirteen and sixty over 45 days in the winter of 2017. A total of 236 competition climbers participated in the survey and 202 of those responses were used in this study. Body appreciation in this study was analyzed …

The Effects Of Alcohol Intoxication And Threats To Masculinity On Engagement In Sexual Aggression: Results From A Web-Based Survey Design And Alcohol Administration Study, Tiffany Lynn Marcantonio

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Research examining the combined effects of men’s alcohol consumption and perceptions of their masculinity as precarious (e.g., viewing masculinity as easily threatened) on sexual aggression (SA) is lacking. The goal of this dissertation study was to assess if alcohol consumption and precarious masculinity are related to men’s SA via a web-administered survey (Study 1) and an in-person alcohol administration experiment (Study 2).

Methodology: In Study 1, two samples of young adult men (aged 18-30) were collected, 1) a community sample of 492 men and 2) a college sample of 478 men, to complete a 20-minute survey; participants answered questions …

Assessment Of The University Of Rhode Island's Dining Halls And Student Perceptions Of On-Campus Dining, Maria Cherry

Senior Honors Projects

University dining halls are understudied food environments that affect student diet quality. This study (1) assessed dining hall offerings at the University of Rhode Island (URI) using the Partnership for a Healthier America’s Healthier Campus Initiative (PAHA) criteria for healthier campus food environments and (2) evaluated student perceptions of the dining hall through a campus-wide survey (n=165). We evaluated breakfast, lunch, and dinner using spring cycle menus (16 weeks in 2019 and 4 in 2021) from two full-service dining halls totaling 29 meals in 2019, and 84 meals in 2021 to determine adherence with PAHA criteria for availability of: 1) …

Characterization Of Folic Acid, 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate And Synthetic Folinic Acid In The High-Affinity Folate Transporters: Impact On Pregnancy And Development, Ana M. Palacios, Rachel A. Feiner, Robert M. Cabrera

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Objectives:

Folates are B vitamins that are essential for several molecular, cellular, and biological processes, including nucleotide synthesis, methylation, and methionine cycling. The physiological impacts of these processes on health also extend to cell proliferation, folate deficiency anemia, and reduction of the risk of birth defects during pregnancy. The primary objective of this study was to characterize the binding affinities of different folate forms, folic acid (FA), 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5MTHF), and folinic acid, to the folate receptors α and β, and to the bovine milk folate binding protein. These three dietary forms of folate are found in enriched grains (FA), various …

Caregiver-Child Conversations About Sex In African American Women, Hannah King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using grounded theory methods, this study examines the experience of African American women during their caregiver-child conversations about sex and the impacts of the conversations on their sexual attitudes. The process of these conversations begins with an unplanned topic and progresses further to identify six essential themes of these conversations: gender differences, race and religion, protective/emphasis on protection, lack of knowledge, withholding knowledge, and sex negativity/shame. African American women’s description of the process included feelings of shame and negativity towards their sexuality. Caregivers promoted positive messages about sex by having open conversations that advocated for equality between the genders, empower …

A D2 To D1 Shift In Dopaminergic Inputs To Midbrain 5-Ht Neurons Causes Anorexia In Mice, Xing Cai, Hailan Liu, Bing Feng, Meng Yu, Yang He, Hesong Liu, Chen Liang, Yongjie Yang, Longlong Tu, Nan Zhang, Lina Wang, Na Yin, Junying Han, Zili Yan, Chunmei Wang, Pingwen Xu, Qi Wu, Qingchun Tong, Yanlin He, Yong Xu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Midbrain dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) neurons regulate motivated behaviors, including feeding, but less is known about how these circuits may interact. In this study, we found that DA neurons in the mouse ventral tegmental area bidirectionally regulate the activity of 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), with weaker stimulation causing DRD2-dependent inhibition and overeating, while stronger stimulation causing DRD1-dependent activation and anorexia. Furthermore, in the activity-based anorexia (ABA) paradigm, which is a mouse model mimicking some clinical features of human anorexia nervosa (AN), we observed a DRD2 to DRD1 shift of DA neurotransmission on 5-HT

Identification Of Community Knowledge On Lead Contamination And Analysis Of Lead Level In Fish, Sita Nurwulan, Sophi Damayanti, Lia Amalia

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Poisoning is an event of human exposure to poisonous substances that are harmful to the body at certain doses. Lead is a heavy metal that can cause toxicity, including neurotoxic effects, hypertension, digestive system disorders, bone and tooth growth disorders, immune system disorders, infertility, and fetal disorders. Fish is a source of nutrients that are often consumed by people, however can also accumulate lead. This study aimed to analyze the lead level in fish and identify the community knowledge level regarding lead contamination in fish. Identification of community knowledge levels regarding lead. Identification of community knowledge levels regarding lead contamination …

Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Hypertension And Diabetes Mellitus Among The Indonesian Elderly, Prisilia Oktaviyani, Salman Salman, Marlynda Happy Nurmalita Sari, Melisa Frisilia, Munazar Munazar, Ana Satria, Maretalinia Maretalinia

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Epidemiological and demographic transitions lead to the emergence of non-communicable diseases (NCD) among the elderly. This study aimed to examine the risk factors of hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM) among the elderly by using secondary data (Basic Health Research 2018).

Methods: Secondary data from Basic Health Research (N = 88,911) were used. Cut-off values for measurement were WHO standard of 126 mg/dl for fasting and 200 mg/dl for non-fasting for DM and 140 mmHg for systole and 90 mmHg for diastole for hypertension. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate (binary logistic regression) analyses were conducted using STATA version 15. …

Investigating The Links Between Body Composition And Female University Students’ Night Eating Habits And Sleep Quality, Hanisah Rosli, Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin, Amanda Priscilla Lim, Vimalah Vallavan, Lew Sze Yuen, Norizatul Hidayah Yusop, Nur Athirah Razali, Amerull Daneal Amran, Nurfarahin Asmadi, Mohd Sham Othman

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Malaysia has the highest prevalence of obesity among Southeast Asian countries, and the current number is expected to increase further. In particular, the rate of obesity is reportedly increasing among females and young adults in Malaysia. Modern lifestyle habits, which include night eating and poor sleep quality, have been shown to increase the risk of obesity and high body fat. This study aims to determine the link between female university students’ body composition and their night eating habits and sleep quality.

Methods: Body composition was measured using a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) analyzer. Night eating syndrome and …

Exploring The Experience Of Stigma Among People Living With Hiv In Bali, Indonesia: Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Jufri Hidayat, Xuan-Yi Huang, Hung-Ru Lin, Shiow-Jing Wei, Miao-Yen Chen, Satriya Pranata

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related stigma continues to be a serious problem for people living with HIV (PLWH). This study aimed to explore stigma experience among PLWH in Bali, Indonesia.

Methods: This research was a qualitative descriptive phenomenological study. With the help of a local clinician–researcher and the staff of the United Nations Program on AIDS Commission, Bali, 10 participants were recruited by purposive sampling and participated in semi-structured interviews via WhatsApp online audio from April to December 2021. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s process.

Results: The following three themes emerged: (1) experiencing discrimination, (2) getting stronger …

Equitable Vaccine Access Within An Age-Based Framework, Alan B. Cobo-Lewis

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Objectives: When vaccine supply was limited, several states adopted age-based prioritization for Covid-19 vaccine eligibility because it is simple (especially when age is quantized by decade) and age is strongly associated with Covid-19 mortality. But this approach raises equity concerns based in law and ethics. I propose data-driven solutions for equitable policy within an age-based framework. Methods: Using CDC and Census Bureau data, I analyzed 538,627 U.S. Covid-19 deaths by age and race-ethnicity through February 2021 and compared the risk ratios to published data on risk ratios for other conditions. Results: Covid-19 mortality rose 2.56-fold per decade of life. Down …