Epidemiology Commons^™

Receiving Positive Hiv Test Results From Home Testing And Suicidality, Nekeisha A. Hewitt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited studies have been conducted on whether receiving a positive result from at-home HIV testing correlates with suicidality (suicidal attempt or ideation). Based on the Ajzen theory of planned behavior, this cross-sectional study comprises a surveyed convenience sample of (N = 213) HIV -positive or negative adults who either tested for HIV at home or in-clinic. The purpose of this study was to explore any association between testing positive for HIV using the HIV at-home test kit and (a) suicidal attempt and (b) suicidal ideation; also, to discover any association between (c) HIV-negative and suicidality and (d) all HIV-positives …

Predictors Of Depression Screening Among Cancer Patients In U.S. Ambulatory Settings, Joseph Oluyinka Fawole

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression is a common mental health comorbidity in cancer diagnoses, affecting 8-24% of cancer patients. Despite the high prevalence of depression among cancer patients, it is often unrecognized and untreated, thereby representing an enormous psychological distress source among the cancer patient population. The purpose of this study was to explore and establish the factors that predict depression screening among cancer patients in the ambulatory care setting in the United States. The health belief model guided the study. Secondary data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were analyzed to evaluate the predictors of depression screening in patients diagnosed with cancer. …

Awareness And Preparedness Of Healthcare Workers Against The First Wave Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey Across 57 Countries, Nguyen Tien Huy, R Matthew Chico, Vuong Thanh Huan, Hosam Waleed Shaikhkhalil, Vuong Ngoc Thao Uyen, Ahmad Taysir Atieh Qarawi, Shamael Thabit Mohammed Alhady, Nguyen Lam Vuong, Le Van Truong, Mai Ngoc Luu, Shyam Prakash Dumre, Atsuko Imoto, Peter N Lee, Dao Ngoc Hien Tam, Sze Jia Ng, Mohammad Rashidul Hashan, Mitsuaki Matsui, Nguyen Tran Minh Duc, Sedighe Karimzadeh, Nut Koonrungsesomboon, Chris Smith, Sharon Cox, Kazuhiko Moji, Kenji Hirayama, Le Khac Linh, Kirellos Said Abbas, Tran Nu Thuy Dung, Tareq Mohammed Ali Al-Ahdal, Emmanuel Oluwadare Balogun, Nguyen The Duy, Mennatullah Mohamed Eltaras, Trang Huynh, Nguyen Thi Linh Hue, Bui Diem Khue, Abdelrahman Gad, Gehad Mohamed Tawfik, Kazumi Kubota, Hoang-Minh Nguyen, Dmytro Pavlenko, Vu Thi Thu Trang, Le Thuong Vu, Tran Hai Yen, Nguyen Thi Yen-Xuan, Luong Thi Trang, Vinh Dong, Akash Sharma, Vu Quoc Dat, Mohammed Soliman, Jeza Abdul Aziz, Jaffer Shah, Pham Dinh Long Hung, Yap Siang Jee, Dang Thuy Ha Phuong, Tran Thuy Huong Quynh, Hoang Thi Nam Giang, Vy Thi Nhat Huynh, Nguyen Anh Thi, Nacir Dhouibi, Truc Phan, Vincent Duru, Nguyen Hai Nam, Sherief Ghozy, Tmgh-Global Covid-19 Collaborative

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerns related to the preparedness of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to describe the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital HCWs at the time of the first wave.

METHODS: This multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital HCWs from February to May 2020. We used a hierarchical logistic regression multivariate analysis to adjust the influence of variables based on awareness and preparedness. We then used association rule mining to identify relationships between HCW confidence in handling suspected COVID-19 patients and prior COVID-19 case-management training.

RESULTS: We surveyed 24,653 …

Association Of National Covid-19 Cases With Objectively And Subjectively Measured Mental Health Proxies In The Austrian Football League–An Epidemiological Study, Antje Van Der Zee-Neuen, Alexander Seymer, Dagmar Schaffler-Schaden, Jürgen Herfert, James Óbrien, Tim Johansson, Patrick Kutschar, Stephan Ludwig, Thomas Stöggl, David Keeley, Maria Flamm, Jürgen Osterbrink

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

We aimed to explore the association of national COVID-19 data with the objective and subjective mental health proxies (i.e. location variance, self-reported sleep quality, level of recovery, perceived risk of infection) in team and staff members of five professional Austrian Football clubs. Data were conveniently collected during the implementation of a novel monitoring concept. The concept was designed to enable safe continuation of professional Football during the COVID-19 pandemic. These data were matched with Austrian COVID-19 data and smartphone collected location data. Multivariable linear regression models explored the association of COVID-19, defined as daily novel or active Austrian cases of …

The Relationship Between Insurance And Health Outcomes Of Diabetes Mellitus Patients In Maryland: A Retrospective Archival Study, Soo-Hoon Lee, Samuel L. Brown, Andrew A. Bennett

Management Faculty Publications

Background

Past studies examining the health outcomes of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients found that social determinants of health disparities were associated with variabilities in health outcomes. However, improving access to healthcare, such as health insurance, should mitigate negative health outcomes. The aim of the study was to explore the association between four types of health insurance, namely, Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS), Medicare Managed Care (MC), Private FFS, and Private MC plans, and the health outcomes of DM patients, controlling for patients’ social determinants of health.

Methods

This is a retrospective cross-sectional archival record study to explore the relationships between types of …

Leadership, Quality Improvement, Team Functionality, And Hiv Viral Load Suppression In Uganda, Esther Karungi Karamagi Nkolo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low viral load suppression rate is a significant public health issue in Uganda and similar countries. A nationwide quality improvement (QI) initiative was implemented from January 2019 to improve viral load suppression. Although QI team characteristics have been shown to influence the success of such QI initiatives, no studies have been found to understand how they influence the success of QI efforts to improve HIV viral load suppression in Uganda. The purpose of this cross-sectional, quantitative study was to determine whether there is a significant association between HIV clinic leader involvement in QI teams, QI team functionality, QI team diversity, …

Drug-Resistant Neisseria Gonorrhoeae; Identification Of At-Risk Groups In Florida By Regional Variation, Scott August Herber

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been on the rise in the State of Florida since 2013. Florida currently follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for identifying those at-risk for gonorrhea and drug resistant gonorrhea infections. These groups are narrowly defined and do not consider the different population dynamics throughout the State. This study examined the question of who is at-risk for contracting drug resistant strains of gonorrhea in the eight different regions of Florida based on the prescribed use of last-line-of-antibiotic-defense. Florida’s Surveillance Tools and Reporting System provided 12 years of secondary data from 2007 to 2018. The data …

The Combined Impact Of Race And Education On Obesity Among U.S. Adults By Fidelis Okoye, Fidelis Chidi Okoye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University

College of Health Professions

This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by

Fidelis Okoye

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made.

Review Committee Dr. Vasileios Margaritis, Committee Chairperson, Public Health Faculty Dr. Srikanta Banerjee, Committee Member, Public Health Faculty Dr. James Rohrer, University Reviewer, Public Health Faculty

Chief Academic Officer and ProvostSue Subocz, Ph.D.

Walden University2021

AbstractThe Combined Impact of Race and Education on Obesity Among U.S. Adults by Fidelis Okoye

MA, Walden University, 2009BS, Marygrove College, 2001

Dissertation …

Effects Of Hepatitis On Human Immunodeficiency Virus Viral Suppression, Andrenita Checoby West

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and viral hepatitis leads to unfavorable health outcomes, making treatment of HIV difficult and increasing the odds of HIV transmission. The purpose of this study is to assess whether viral hepatitis (B and C) hinders HIV viral suppression and impacts the white blood cell count (CD4) when a person is concurrently infected with both viruses. The syndemics theory guided this study. Two research questions tested whether there was an association between coinfection with viral hepatitis and HIV viral load suppression. The research design was quantitative case-control with secondary data from 65,626 reports of HIV, …

Demographic Characteristics And Response Preparedness Of Employed Adults To Ebola Virus Disease In Monrovia, Liberia, Beth Ann Sexton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEbola virus disease (EVD) is a deadly disease with no known cure and it caused an outbreak from 2014-2016 in Western Africa. Liberia had the highest morbidity and mortality; its capital city, Monrovia, was the focus of this study. The purpose of this research was to explore the association between sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors (gender, religion, age, occupation, education, and ward) and the use of preventative hygiene measures and understanding of EVD among working Monrovian adults. This population was chosen because 97% of the Monrovian population is employed, and thus serves as a good source for future public health campaigns. …

Predictors Of Hiv Testing Amongst Women Of Childbearing Age In Nigeria, Hassana Bashir Yakasai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV infection is still a public health issue in Nigeria. One of the sustainable development goal targets is to eliminate new HIV infections by the year 2030. Women of childbearing age are a vital group to focus on in eliminating new infections because HIV infection can be transmitted from women to their partners and their children. Nigeria accounts for about one-third of the cases of mother-to-child infections in the world. The purpose of this three manuscript dissertation was to investigate socioecological factors, demographic factors and knowledge of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection (MTCT) as they relate to HIV testing in …

The Power Of Exogenous Variables In Predicting West Nile Virus In South Carolina, Christopher Lee Glaze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the availability of medical data, environmental surveillance tools, and heightened public awareness, West Nile Virus (WNv) remains a global health hazard. Reliable methods for predicting WNv outbreaks remain elusive, and environmental health managers must take preventive actions without the benefit of simple predictive tools. The purpose of this ex post facto research was to examine the accuracy and timeliness of exogenous data in predicting outbreaks of WNv in South Carolina. Decision theory, the CYNEFIN construct, and systems theory provided the theoretical framework for this study, allowing the researcher to broaden traditional decision theory concepts with powerful system-level precepts. Using …

Diabetes Management And Self-Perception Of Health Among Adults In The United States, Moses Ajoku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The burden and complications of diabetes have been a public health concern and societal challenge for decades, and the rate of prevalence is projected to increase in the future. The study aims to examine the association between blood glucose monitoring, glycated hemoglobin test, and self-perceived health status among diabetic adults in the United States. Guided by the chronic care model, the study used data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to investigate diabetes management practices among diabetic adults in the United States. Quantitative and cross-sectional methods were used to assess the associations between diabetes management practices and self-perceived …

Predictors Of Cancer Information Seeking Among Adults With A Family History Of Cancer, Oluwakemi Akindeju Fawole

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cancer is a significant cause of illness and mortality in the United States. A family history of cancer is a valuable factor for assessing disease risk and increasing cancer information-seeking behaviors for prevention. Guided by the health belief model, this quantitative study addressed the predictors of cancer information seeking behavior among adults with a family history of cancer. In this study, data from 8,473 participants in the 2017–2019 Health Information Trends Analysis Survey were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. This analysis addressed whether there was a statistically significant difference in sociodemographic factors, measures of health status, and health care engagement …

Hospital Emergency Room Visits For Heavy Menstrual Bleeding, Henry John Mead

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a well-recognized health issue among women of reproductive age. The characteristics and demographics of women in the community with HMB who present at the emergency department (ED) are not well described. This research aimed to describe the cohort of women who seek treatment at the ED. The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project 2016 National Emergency Department Sample was examined. The theory of reasoned action predicts that women who present at the ED are exhibiting health seeking behavior. From 32 million records, the inception cohort identified N = 111,555 cases. Using national estimation weights, this translates …

How Cyber Activity Influences Depression And Anxiety In Teenagers, Mary Fridah Gatwiri Muiruri

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Both depression and anxiety have been a focus of scholars since their rates have recently skyrocketed from 5.4 % in 2003 to 20 % currently among teenagers in the United States. Although numerous studies have assessed the association between playing video games and depression, few studies have examined how cyberbullying and screen time contribute to depressive symptoms in teenagers. The purpose of this study was to analyze cyberbullying and screen time on depression in teens. . The exploration of associations between the dependent variable, depression, and the independent variables, screen time, video gaming, and cyberbullying, were guided by Bandura’s social …

Exploring The Relationship Between Antenatal Care And Postnatal Care To Newborn Outcomes In Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria, Adebe Gabriel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Newborn outcomes (morbidity or mortality) have been on the increase in Borno State. This study explores the relationship between antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) and newborn outcomes among women in Mafa local government area, Borno State. Also examined were the relationships between transportation and newborn outcomes, women’s knowledge of illness during pregnancy and ANC attendance, availability of staff/health workers, availability of supplies/equipment relations with ANC and PNC attendance. The three delays model was used as theoretical framework. The research will be useful for government and program-implementing partners to guide quality reproductive maternal newborn child adolescent health and nutrition …

Association Between Food Insecurity And Influenza Outcome In The United States., Sabrina Fiona Pink

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe influenza virus is one of the most commonly occurring respiratory viral infections in the world. The outer capsule of the virus contains 18H proteins and 11N proteins, which allows the virus to reform in over 100 different strands and outperform the vaccine. Despite efforts to improve access to care and reduce vaccine inequities; the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 9-45 million documented influenza-related illnesses, 140,000 to 810,000 hospitalization, and 64,000 deaths yearly. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether food insecurity, access to care and other social determinants of health such as age, race, and …

Isocitrate Dehydrogenase-1 Mutation As A Prognostic Factor In Recurrent Glioblastoma, Haroon R. Hashmi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive form of brain cancer that has a high recurrence rate and very poor prognosis. The prognostic value of various molecular markers (e.g., IDH 1 mutation, MGMT promoter methylation, etc.) and clinical factors (e.g., age, KPS, surgery and chemotherapy) has been studied in GBM after initial diagnosis but not as extensively in the recurrent GBM. Utilizing a retrospective cohort design, based on quantitative data collected through medical chart reviews, and the conceptual framework of outcomes research in oncology, this study evaluated the prognostic value of IDH-1 mutation in recurrent GBM in the context of key predictor …

Risk Factors For Foodborne Illness Outbreaks In Retail Food Establishments, Brendalee Viveiros

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite policies and interventions over the last two decades, foodborne illness remains a significant public health concern. According to the CDC’s Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System, 60% of reported foodborne illness outbreaks involved food that was prepared at a restaurant. Reducing foodborne illness outbreaks that occur at restaurants would have a significant impact on the overall number of foodborne illnesses that occur each year. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively analyze the differences in risk factors in food establishments that have had a foodborne illness outbreak compared to food establishments that have not. This study used Reckwitz’s theory …