Other Public Health Commons^™

Smarter Disease Detection From Electronic Health Record Data: An End-To-End Ai-Augmented Pipeline For Computable Phenotyping, Dylan Owens

Statistical Science Theses and Dissertations

Electronic Health Records (EHR) contain a wealth of structured and unstructured patient data that can be leveraged for computable phenotyping, the process of algorithmically identifying patient cohorts with specific diseases or conditions. Traditional rule-based phenotyping approaches, while interpretable, often struggle with scalability, portability across institutions, and effective use of unstructured clinical narratives. Recent advances in large language models (LLMs) present new opportunities for synthesizing complex free-text information into concise, clinically meaningful representations. However, integrating LLMs into phenotyping workflows requires careful design to maintain transparency, interpretability, and measurable uncertainty—features essential for clinical adoption and downstream applications such as decision support.

We …

Documentation And Referral Of Social Determinants Of Health In New Mexico’S Emergency Departments: International Classification Of Disease, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification, “Z Codes” (Z55-Z65), Samuel L. Swift, Maya Stefanovic, Roselyn Thalathara

Population Health Research and Scholarship

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of The Diagnostic Age Of Skin Carcinomas Across Central Texas, Miguel A. Lopez, Natasha Quailes, Elias Arellano Villanueva, Hamaad Gohar, Maria Villegas

Research Colloquium

Patients seeking healthcare in medically underserved regions often require travel to larger metropolitan hubs across the state of Texas. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is home to many such patients who often travel to central Texas for care, which compounds expense and inconvenience. Pockets of central Texas have been reported to have an increased number of dermatologists per 100,000 people. Bexar county ranks among the five most populous counties in the state, with increased access to dermatologic care compared to nearby regions. Using data from the Texas Cancer Registry, this project aims to identify the mean (M) age of diagnosis …

Cerebral Malaria In Chad- A Case Report Series, Megan W. Szobody, Blaise Djomg Yang, Noel Johnson, Kelsey Potter-Baker

Research Colloquium

Malaria is a serious disease caused by various species of the Plasmodium genus. Among these, Plasmodium falciparum is widely considered the most dangerous, due to its ability to infect both young and mature red blood cells (RBCs). Malarial disease, caused primarily by P. falciparum, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa, and notably in Chad, accounting for over 10,000 deaths each year and with an incidence rate of over 3 million. Anyone can acquire falciparum malaria after being bitten by infected anopheles mosquitoes, but in pregnant women and young children, this disease is often deadly. A …

A Puzzling Case Of Visual Disturbances Leads To A Fatal Neurodegenerative Diagnosis, Courtney J. Austin, Aaron Carrillo, Jennifer Rojas Huen, Victoria Parada

Research Colloquium

Background: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare neurodegenerative disease in which early diagnosis is complicated by the presence of early non-specific and atypical presentations. Sporadic CJD (sCJD), the most common type of CJD, is caused by the spread of a disease-forming prion known as PrPSc. PrPSc multiplies and binds to the normal form of prion, or PrP, converting it to an abnormal, structurally altered disease form that spreads throughout the brain. sCJD can initially present with six different phenotypes: cognitive, affective, classic, visual (Heidenhain variant), atactic (Oppenheimer-Brownell variant), and indeterminate. The classic presentation of CJD includes rapidly progressive dementia with …

Air Pollution And Diseases: Signaling, G Protein-Coupled And Toll Like Receptors, Isabella Cattani-Cavalieri, Katrina F. Ostrom, Jordyn Margolis, Rennolds S. Ostrom, Martina Schmidt

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Air pollution is a significant public health issue that impacts lung health, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions. Both natural and anthropogenic sources of air pollution give rise to a variety of toxic compounds, including particulate matter (PM), ozone (O₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Exposure to these pollutants is strongly associated with the development and exacerbation of respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Notably, early life exposure to pollutants such as …

Nursing Students’ Sociodemographic Characteristics And Consumer Preferences’ Prediction Level Of Perceived Food Literacy, Sinan Duru

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Food literacy, which is a critical competency for nursing students, plays a pivotal role in promoting evidence-based nutrition behaviors and contributes effectively to public health. This study aimed to determine the level of perceived food literacy among nursing students.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 488 nursing students from two universities in the south of Turkey. The research data were collected face to face via the Personal Information Form, the Consumer Preferences Form, and Self Perceived Food Literacy. The data was analyzed using the Independent Sample t Test, One Way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression.

Results: The …

A Study On Nutritional Status Among Regular Gym Goers In And Around Chennai, India, Ettiyappan Thirumurugan, Kalpana Devi Venkatesan, Pavithra Tamilmani, Devika Preetha, Joyce Albert Princy Mariya Selvanathan, Dhanyasree Mohandas, Ameer Basha Sathik, Santhosh Kumar Manjunathan, Ashika Kannadhas Sheeba

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The increasing sales of sports supplements indicate a concerning trend, as many gym-goers may misuse these products owing to misinformation and insufficient knowledge, potentially impacting their performance. This issue is further compounded by specific gym trainers who may lack comprehensive information and inadvertently influence their clients' choices. To address this concern, the present study evaluated dietary supplement practices and sports nutrition knowledge among regular gym-goers at fitness centers in Chennai, India.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2023 to May 2024 using a validated questionnaire distributed across Chennai, India. A total of 450 participants were …

Addressing Psychosocial Barriers To Participation In People Experiencing Homelessness: An Occupational Therapy Workshop, Preston Bender, Steven M. Gerardi, Lacey Spark

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Despite the occupational therapy (OT) profession's emphasis on holistic, person-centered care, many OT practitioners and students report feeling a lack of self-efficacy and preparedness to navigate the complex psychological, social, and systemic barriers that hinder occupational participation in people experiencing homelessness (PEH). This capstone project aimed to address the perceived unpreparedness among clinicians through the creation of an 8-hour interactive educational workshop aligned with Experiential Learning Theory. The content is grounded in the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and informed by the Bridging the Transition from Homelessness: A Social Justice Framework (BTTF), trauma-informed care (TIC), harm reduction, and diversity, equity, …

Kind Kids, Healthy Teens: Child Prosociality And Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Farah Qureshi, Krista P. Woodward, Laura D. Kubzansky, Julia K. Boehm

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

Methods

Dietary, Behavioral, And Psychosocial Factors Related To Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among South Asian Americans: A Scoping Review, Lakshmi Meyyappan, Peggy A. Ursuy, Olivia S. Anderson

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: South Asian Americans disproportionately represent the world’s prevalence of cardiovascular disease. This scoping review assessed the dietary and psychosocial factors associated with cardiovascular disease risk that South Asian Americans encounter and concluded with considerations for health professionals who encounter this population in practice. Method: Inclusion criteria included studies with the primary population as South Asian Americans and investigated diet or psychosocial factors as variables and cardiovascular disease as an outcome variable. Results: Thirteen studies were included. Analysis of nutritional factors showed that South Asian Americans have high dietary quality yet eating non-vegetarian diets and high alcohol consumption is associated …

Bilingual Budget-Friendly Hispanic Cookbook And Resource Guide For Food Pantries In San Bernardino County, Anasofia Garay Guzman

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

San Bernardino County is faced with a significant issue of food insecurity with its residents relying on food pantries to meet their food and nutritional needs. However, the food items offered at food pantries are often limited in quantities and the variety is inconsistent, which makes it a challenge for families wanting to prepare healthier budget friendly meals while maintaining its cultural relevance. This project consists of two main key components: a bilingual, culturally relevant budget-friendly Hispanic cookbook and a comprehensive resource guide about ways and ingredient substitutions adaptable to the recipe based on what is available.

The cookbook included …

Did California's Mental Health Services Act Improve Mental Health? Evidence From Self-Reported Data, Bennett Rider

All Theses

This analysis evaluates the impact of California’s Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which was implemented in 2006 to increase access and improve quality of mental health care for Californians. Difference-in-differences analyses were applied to evaluate the impact of the MHSA on the number of poor mental health days in the past month (PMHDs) that survey respondents had self-reported, relative to a control group with similar pre-policy trends. Using survey data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), this study found that the MHSA’s full implementation is associated with California respondents reporting 0.118 fewer poor mental health days in the …

Engaging In Movement At Work: Exploring Engagement And Physical Activity., Spencer A. Cavan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High levels of employee engagement provide organizations competitive advantages such as increased customer satisfaction, profits, and employee productivity. Despite potential benefits, the number of engaged employees is declining and organizations need to find innovative ways to enhance engagement. Emerging evidence suggests workplace physical activity may generate organizational benefits extending beyond health improvement. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of engagement among employees participating in a physical activity intervention at work. A qualitative design, guided by phenomenology, examined perceptions of workplace physical activity and perceived levels of engagement, as well as constraints related to involvement among university …

Identifying And Breaking Barriers: Addressing Disparities In The Care Of Patients With Gynecologic Cancers, Bhavana Pothuri, Michele Muir, Jean Hurteau, John Farley, Michelle D. Lightfoot, Summer Dewdney, Tara Castellano, John K. Chan, Sharad Ghamande, Al Asante-Facey, Marina Stasenko, B J. Rimel, Electra D. Paskett

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Significant disparities exist in the care of patients with gynecologic malignancies. Higher incidences of gynecologic malignancies among underrepresented subpopulations (eg, racial, ethnic, and/or LGBTQAI+) and lack of representative enrollment within clinical trials have highlighted the need to improve healthcare equity. We aimed to identify barriers to equitable health care and clinical trial participation for specific diverse populations of patients with gynecologic malignancies and to identify potential solutions for overcoming these barriers. METHODS: A series of 4 live and 3 asynchronous advisory boards facilitated by GSK was conducted between January 2023 and July 2024; live advisory boards were population specific. …

Tackling Data Quality Challenges In Remote Sensing: Solutions For Reliable Urban Heat Island Analysis, Wei Xia, Aqil Tariq, Hesham El-Askary, Rana Waqar Aslam, Elgar Barboza, Dmitry E. Kucher, Youssef M. Youssef, Habib Kraiem

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Urban heat islands (UHIs) pose critical challenges to public health, energy demand, and environmental sustainability, particularly in rapidly expanding urban regions. This study examines the complex relationship between building configurations and integrated green spaces, as well as their combined impact on thermal regulation. It focuses on addressing data quality issues commonly encountered in remote sensing applications. Using high-resolution multispectral and thermal imagery, we developed an integrated modeling approach that captures the collective influence of built form and green infrastructure on urban microclimates. A key finding is the significant linear inverse relationship between green space coverage and land surface temperature, underscoring …

A Workplace Posture Initiative To Reduce Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Carrie Isaac

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are a leading cause of occupational injury and discomfort in industrial workplaces. Although an ergonomic program existed at the project site, a formalized process to detect postural misalignments early had not been established. Relying on employee self-reporting, delayed intervention, and limited opportunities to prevent injuries before they progress.

Aim of the Project: A proactive posture screening program using PostureScreen® was implemented to identify postural deviations that could contribute to WRMSDs. Emphasis was placed on supporting employees through early awareness of posture-related issues and evaluation of alignment improvements following individualized intervention.

Review of the Evidence: Evidence …

Temporal And Generational Changes In Depression Among Young American Adults, Ashley W. Kranjac, Dinko Kranjac, Valentine Chung

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

The prevalence of depression among young American adults has risen significantly over the past two decades, but the mechanisms that underlie the population-level changes in depressive symptoms severity remain unclear. We used data from the 2005–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and hierarchical age–period–cohort (HAPC) analysis to examine developmental (i.e., age), life stage (i.e., period), and generational (i.e., cohort) distribution of depressive symptoms among American adults aged 20–30 years old over an 18-year period. Our model results indicate that the probability of either mild, moderate, or severe depression increased among young adult females and males between 2005 and …

Improving Hiv Nonoccupational Postexposure Prophylaxis Completion In Survivors Of Sexual Assault, Rebecca Aden

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE

This project aimed to increase adherence to HIV nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (nPEP) among adult survivors of sexual assault using a 24-hour nurse-led callback intervention to reinforce patient education and support treatment completion.

BACKGROUND

This project was implemented within a public healthcare system’s forensic nursing program. Sexual assault survivors face an elevated risk of HIV transmission, yet completion of the 28-day nPEP regimen often remains below 40%. Barriers to completion include limited understanding, gaps in follow-up, as well as psychosocial and socioeconomic challenges.

METHODOLOGY

The FADE QI framework was utilized for this project. The population included adult, non-incarcerated patients who …

Hubungan Penggunaan Jenis Bahan Bakar Untuk Memasak Dengan Kejadian Ispa Pada Balita Di Provinsi Kalimantan Utara Tahun 2017, Maharani Karina Setiawan, Salwa Zalfa Elyanto, Aisyah Muthia Darajat, M. Nanda Putra Pratama Sm

Jurnal Nasional Kesehatan Lingkungan Global

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) in toddlers are certainly still a significant public health problem with environmental factors affecting them, such as air pollution from the burning of the fuels used, namely charcoal, wood and kerosene. This study aims to analyze the relationship between household fuel use and the incidence of ISPA in toddlers, especially in North Kalimantan Province (Kaltara) using data from the Indonesian Health Demographic Survey (SDKI) in 2017. The research design used a cross-sectional study, data analysis was carried out descriptively using a table then followed by chi square data analysis to determine the relationship between the variable …