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Welcome Letter Of Introduction To Our New Journal - Optometric Clinical Practice, Timothy Wingert Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

On behalf of the entire editorial board, Timothy Wingert, OD, dean at the University of the Incarnate Word - Rosenberg School of Optometry, welcomes you to the inaugural issue of Optometric Clinical Practice. (ISSN: 2575-7717)

Health Benefits Associated With An Employer-Sponsored Health Promotion Program With Device-Reported Activity, Ian Duncan, Wade Herndon, Xiyue Liao

Journal of Wellness

Background: As interest has grown in the effect of healthy behaviors on health outcomes, programs have been developed to incent healthy behavior. The growth of devices able to transmit information about program participant activities has allowed researchers to analyze physical activity (PA). We analyzed the relationship between positive changes in device-reported physical activity levels and changes in health-related variables in a longitudinal cohort of US based employees.

Methods: Exercise levels were measured and recorded by a device (such as a pedometer or heart-rate monitor) or gym visit and recorded by the health promotion program provider, The Vitality Group. The devices …

Hiv Care Location: An Evaluation Of Single Versus Multi Facility Utilization Of Hiv/Aids Care Services And Patient Health Outcomes And Clinical Indicators In South Carolina, Melanie Gwynn

Theses and Dissertations

Background: On the HIV/AIDS care continuum, the “retention in care” metric does not distinguish between single-facility (SF) or multi-clinic utilization (MC), also described as HIV care location (or type). SF utilization is vital as it has been linked optimal clinical outcomes among People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). Published research detailing the prevalence of HIV care type and its association with health outcomes/clinical indicators, has been studied only in limited urban settings. Additionally, coinfections such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), have yet to be evaluated as potential predictive factors for HIV care type.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was used …

Did Medicaid Expansion Under The Affordable Care Act Reduce The Likelihood That People Report Employment Status Changes Due To Health, U.S., 2009-2017, Songyuan Deng

Theses and Dissertations

Medicaid expansion of Affordable Care Act (ACA) extended coverage to low-income working adults. While Medicaid expansion led to increased healthcare use and national healthcare expenditures, current studies do not examine the effects of Medicaid expansion on health status from the perspective of social roles, for example, changes in employment status. This study use data from the Current Population Survey to examine the association between Medicaid expansion and the probability to attribute part-time work or not-in-labor- force to health issues among people with family annual income no more than 138 of Federal Poverty Level, with a difference-in-differences study design. We found …

The Association Of Health Insurance And Prescription Drug Coverage On Cost-Related Non-Adherence And Hospitalization Across Age-Related Groups Of Individuals With Copd, Shamika Martin Walls

Theses and Dissertations

Background: COPD patients have poor adherence to prescribed treatment. Individuals with COPD have higher out-of-pocket treatment cost than individuals without COPD. The significant out of pocket COPD related treatment cost can lead to prescription drug non-adherence especially for individuals without health insurance or prescription drug coverage.

Significance: Since the implementation of Medicare Part D on January 1, 2006, there are no studies that have used national data to evaluate the association of health insurance and prescription drug coverage on cost related non-adherence and hospitalization among individuals 50-64 years old with COPD compared to individuals 65 years and older …

Clinically Integrated Networks: The ‘Magic Pill’ For Improving The Quality Of Health Care?, Kaitlyn Ann Crosby

Theses and Dissertations

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) served as a paradigm shift to reimburse physicians based on health outcomes or quality of care patients receive in relation to and conscious of the cost to provide care, rather than the traditional fee-for- service (FFS) system. To implement value-based care under the ACA, value-based care models (VBCM), such as patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) and accountable care organizations (ACO), were formed with the ultimate goal to advance quality of care. Among commercially insured populations, clinically integrated networks (CIN) have emerged as another type of VBCM.

Since CINs are the newest type of …

The Relationship Between The Electronic Health Record Patient Portal And Shared Decision Making, Gloria Esoimeme

Theses and Dissertations

Shared decision making (SDM) is a collaborative decision-making style where the patient and the physician are involved in the clinical decision-making process. The goal of this dissertation project was to examine the relationship between the patient portal of an electronic health record (EHR) and SDM.

The SDM process has three main components: information sharing, deliberation and decision making. Patients participate in SDM at varying levels: some patients may prefer to share information and deliberate but leave the final decision making to the provider while others prefer to participate in all the three components of SDM. The patient portal of an …

Examining Women’S Perceptions Of Maternity Care In Public And Private Sectors Of National Guard Hospitals In Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study, Hanin M. Almahmoud

Theses and Dissertations

Every second, a baby is born. The process of birth is a complex one – biologically, medically, and emotionally. In particular, women in labor need both physical and emotional care. They need to be heard, to be comforted, and to be safe.

Women’s satisfaction can be used as a legitimate way to measure the quality of maternity care. Moreover, when health systems practice patient-centered care and listen to women’s concerns and what they want out of their care, it can lead to improvements in their satisfaction. Hospitals in Saudi Arabia are considered to be among the best and most technologically …

The Association Of Reimbursement Methods With The Tendency Of Primary Care Physicians To Apply The American Diabetic Association’S Recommendations And Make Referrals To Specialists Among Ambulatory Care Patients In Us Outpatient Settings., Abdullah Alharbi

Theses and Dissertations

We report on a study of the comparison of two reimbursement methods, capitation (CAP) and fee for service (FFS), as well as mixed payment, with respect to the implementation of the ADA recommendations for Diabetes Type 2 (DM2) management and referral rates for specialist health care in the outpatient setting of the United States.

Our purpose in examining these specific topics is to determine whether there is any difference in the implementation of the ADA recommendations or the frequency of referral between visits paid under CAP vs under FFS because both quality and cost of healthcare is affected by these …

Health Insurance Program For The Poor, Out-Of-Pocket Costs, And Catastrophic Health Expenditures In India, Shyamkumar Sriram

Theses and Dissertations

Background

India is currently taking steps to provide Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as envisaged in its National Health Policy 2017. Financial protection is considered the backbone of UHC. In India, OOP expenses accounts for about 62.6% of total health expenditure - one of the highest in the world. Out of 1.324 billion people in India, around 12.4% of the population is below the poverty line. Lack of health insurance coverage and inadequate coverage are important reasons for high OOP health expenditures. High OOP health expenditures push many households into poverty. The objective of this research is to examine the effect …

The Intergenerational Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Children’S Emergency Department Utilization And Depression And Anxiety In South Carolina, Eboni E. Haynes

Theses and Dissertations

Adult exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is common in the U.S., with over half of adults reporting exposure to at least one ACE. Childhood trauma is associated with risk factors for premature death, disability, poor physical and mental health, and lower quality of life in adults. Traumatic experiences also influence parenting behaviors later in life, placing offspring at an increased risk of ACE exposure. Few studies have explored the intergenerational effects of ACEs on the health and well-being of offspring. This study sought to identify whether associations existed between caregiver ACE exposures and emergency department (ED) utilization for sick …

A Policy Analysis Of South Carolina Drug Court Legislation: H. 3322 § 302: Drug Court Program Act (2019), Mae Chinnes

Senior Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to examine a piece of drug court legislation currently being considered by the South Carolina Legislature, H. 3322 § 302. An overview of drug criminalization in the United States, its impact, and drug courts are provided. This is followed by a review of the literature on the key programmatic components of drug court best practices, including: target population, incentives and sanctions, management team, and duration. An example analysis of Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Drug Court Program policies proceeds the analysis of H. 3322. Parameters of successful drug court legislation and program outcomes are defined …

Coccidioidomycosis: Medical And Spatio-Temporal Perspectives, Nikias Sarafoglou, Rafael Laniado-Laborin, Menas Kafatos

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Coccidioidomycosis (CM) is a disease of major public health importance due to the challenges in its diagnosis and treatment. To understand CM requires the attributes of a multidisciplinary network analysis to appreciate the complexity of the medical, the environmental and the social issues involved: public health, public policy, geology, atmospheric science, agronomy, social sciences and finally humanities, all which provide insight into this population transformation.

In section 1 of this paper, we describe the CM-epidemiology, the clinical features, the diagnosis and finally the treatment.

In section 2, we highlight the most important contributions and controversies in the history of the …

The Upper East Side Vs Central Harlem: What Is Responsible For The Dermatology Disparities That Shaped These Communities?, Zakiya Cush, Jeffrey Weinberg

Annual SHSP Student Research and Scholarship Day

Very few studies have been done to understand why there is a paucity of dermatology practices in the Central Harlem (CH) community in Manhattan. This ecological and exploratory study will identify factors such as, geographical location, race, socioeconomic status, health care and medical education, as reasons why there is a disparity between the dermatology services in the CH community versus the Upper East Side (UES) of Manhattan. Thus, examining the differences in the neighborhoods as a mediator, it is hypothesized there is a need for increased dermatology practices to CH, as not catering to the clinical needs of a community …

The Skiles Mummy: Care Of A Debilitated Hunter-Gatherer Evidenced By Coprolite Studies And Stable Isotopic Analysis Of Hair, Kirsten A. Verostick, Isabel Teixeira-Santos, Vaughn M. Bryant Jr., Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

The Skiles Mummy (SMM), a naturally mummified adult male from the late archaic period of Lower Pecos Canyonlands of South Texas, represents a unique case of care. SMM is an exceptional mummy within this region due to both the retention of a full head of hair, and having a diagnosed case of megacolon, a complication commonly associated with Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Stable isotopic analysis of his hair is consistent with a diet incorporating of C₄/CAM plants with some C₃ plants, freshwater resources, and higher trophic level animals. However, the segments of hair most …

Does Ethnic Identity, In-Group Preference, And Acculturation Protect Latinas With A History Of Interpersonal Trauma From Developing Symptoms Of Ptsd?, Evelyn M. Ramirez

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Previous research suggests ethnic identity, a sense of belonging to a particular cultural group, may be protective against symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the role of ethnic identity, in-group preference (i.e., an individual’s preference for interactions with members of their own ethnic group) and acculturation (i.e., the level of comfort with the mainstream culture) have not been investigated as protective factors for Latinas with a history of interpersonal and sexual trauma. In this study, ethnic identity, in-group preference and acculturation were assessed via self-report on the Scale of Ethnic Experience in two samples of undergraduate Latina and non-Latina …

Parental Choices Of Flotation Devices For Children And Teen Swimmers And Waders: A Survey At Beaches In Washington State, Natalie Spitzer, Thomas W. Mangione, Wendy Chow, Linda Quan, Elizabeth Bennett

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning at open-water areas is the second leading cause of unintentional death among Washington State children. Providing written and visual safety instructions and loaned life jackets at swim sites (“loaner boards”) may reduce the risk of drowning. This study sought to understand parental perceptions regarding loaner boards and behaviors related to bringing flotation devices for children to use while swimming. Of the 102 surveys administered to parents on the beach at 10 different open-water sites, 29 were collected from sites with loaner boards. Parents provided information about ages of family members present, flotation devices brought and perceptions surrounding loaner boards. …

Challenges To Diabetes Self-Management For Adults With Type 2 Diabetes In Low-Resource Settings In Mexico City: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Robin Whittemore, Mireya Vilar-Compte, Selene De La Cerda, Denise Marron, Rosabelle Conover, Roberta Delvy, Annel Lozano-Marrufo, Rafael Pérez-Escamilla

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Mexico is one of the highest in the world, with high morbidity and mortality, and difficulty meeting glycemic targets. The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges for T2D self-management as perceived by both adults with T2D and health care providers in primary health clinics from Seguro Popular in Mexico City.

Methods: This was a qualitative descriptive study conducted in three Seguro Popular primary care clinics in Mexico City using convenience sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants and data were analyzed using a content analysis approach.

Results: The …

Enhancing Quality Of Life Of People With Visual Impairments Through Aesthetic Techniques, Christia M. Labro

Student Capstone Papers

Vision loss affects roughly 285 million people globally and is one of the leading causes of age-related disability which can lead to reduced quality of life (QoL) and increased levels of depression and anxiety (van der Aa, Bruin, van Rens, Twisk, & van Nispen, 2015). Occupational therapists have been involved in the rehabilitation of individuals with low vision since 1917 (Warren, 1995) and are significant to the low vision community due to their knowledge and expertise addressing occupational limitations while taking into consideration psychosocial factors that result from vision loss. However, there appears to be gaps in the literature related …

Head Depth And Head Speed During Competitive Backstroke Ledge Starts, Wesley J. Manz, Joel T. Greenshields, Brian V. Wright, Curtis S. Goss, Benjamin C. Skutnik, Joel M. Stager

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Recently, a commercially available starting ‘ledge’ designed to reduce foot slippage during the execution of the backstroke start was introduced in competitive swimming. For the purpose of identifying potential safety consequences, the present study investigated the effect of ledge use on head depths, speeds, and distances in backstroke starts of athletes with no prior or only novice familiarity of the ledge. Competitive backstroke starts were performed with and without ledges by high school-aged (14.5 to 19.2 yr, N = 61) swimmers in 1.52 m of water during a closed testing session. A SIMI Reality Motion System in a calibrated space …