Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Water/Sanitation, Hygiene, And Risk Factors Associated With Under-5 Mortality In Côte D’Ivoire, Ouda Kamagate

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite remarkable progress in children’s survival since 1990, the global burden of the under-5 mortality rate (U5MR) remains immense. According to the World Health Organization, about 5.2 million children below 5 died in 2019, with 14,000 dying each day. Literature reveals that the lack and limitation of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) are linked to deaths in childhood. Cote d’Ivoire still lags behind expectations with 79 per 1000 live births in 2019 rather than 25 and below, so there is a need to uncover to what extent the U5MR is affected by WaSH. Through a cross-sectional design guided by the …

Improving Patients' Engagement And Retention In Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment, Leo W. Lavender

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance use disorder continues to be a major health crisis in the United States. Thousands of people die yearly due to substance use and related criminal activity. Substance abuse treatment is a remedy to the disorder and treatment centers admit thousands of patients yearly to address the dilemma. Throughout the years retention has been an ongoing barrier to successful treatment. This study explored significant obstacles to retention: motivation and engagement. The Baldrige Excellence Framework was utilized to assess the training, supervision, procedures, and leadership roles at an intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment center. This study utilized a qualitative approach case …

Socioeconomic And Health Impact Of Opioid Overuse On Working-Age Population In Minnesota, Colette Ngum Ngwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract The United States faces numerous challenges associated with the ongoing opioid crisis. Although the opioid epidemic is complex, opioid overuse affects users’ health and has a far-reaching impact on socioeconomic well-being. This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design using secondary data from a 2018 national survey of working-age individuals ages 18 to 45. Multivariate regression analysis was used to examine the associations between opioid overuse and socioeconomic status, health status, and perceived need for substance abuse treatment. The addiction career concept and chronic illness model theory were used to analyze these correlations. The findings indicated that people with higher …

Project Spraoi: The Implementation And Outcomes Of A Process Evaluation Of A School-Based Health Promotion Intervention, Yvonne Larrissa O’Byrne

Theses

Large multi-site school-based interventions are challenging to implement and difficult to evaluate due to the complex adaptive nature of schools as a research setting. This study focused on implementing a comprehensive process evaluation of a multicomponent primary school-based health promotion called Project Spraoi (PS), alongside intervention delivery, to aid the translation of outcomes and understand the moderating role of contextual factors on intervention delivery. PS is led by a physical activity (PA) specialist known as an Energizer and aims to improve children’s PA levels and reduce sedentary time by delivering 20 minutes extra daily moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) during …

Effectiveness Of Responsible Beverage Service Policies In Reducing Drunk-Driving In Maryland, Rhoda Makinde

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the State of Maryland and across the United States, driving under the influence (DUI) has led to a massive loss of lives and disability cases. Hence, responsible beverage service (RBS) policies and programs have been developed to prevent and control DUI incidence. This study sought to identify the effectiveness of these policies in addressing the DUI-related fatalities and injuries among young adults (18–30 years old) in the State of Maryland. Using program theory to evaluate the effectiveness of RBS policies and programs in reducing DUI, this qualitative research sampled bar patrons, club patrons, and alcohol servers/service staff in Baltimore. …

Accessibility To Vaping Products, Vaping, And Use Of Cigarettes Among Adolescents, Sherri Adeosun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There has been a continuous increase in the use of e-cigarettes among adolescents. The growth threatens to nullify the years of successfully reducing cigarette smoking among this age demographic. Additionally, the increase has been a concern for public healthcare workers due to the limited research on the effects of long-term use of e-cigarettes on adolescents. I investigated the possible side effects of exposure to e-cigarette advertisements and the use of e-cigarettes. Additionally, the study reviewed the relationship between the age e-cigarette use was initiated and the subsequent use of cigarettes. The conceptual framework was based on the multi-theory model and …

Vaccine Hesitancy Among Healthcare Workers In The Covid-19 Era, Gabriella Checchi

Capstone Showcase

Vaccination against harmful, deadly pathogens have been an essential tool in the scientific world and have shaped our community as we know it today. They have allowed us to live in a society where members of the community are protected from certain severe disease and can help to decrease the death toll of these diseases. Vaccines have allowed us to eradicate smallpox, a disease that ravaged the world and killed over 300 million people. They have been a one of the most useful advances in medical science so far. And yet today, as SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread rampantly throughout the …

The Program To Reduce Implicit Bias In Carroll Hospital Center Using The Implicit Association Test, Katherine E. Traynor

Capstone Showcase

Natural brain processes make all individuals susceptible to unconscious bias; however, stressful, fearful, or anger-evoking situations as well as the negative influence of media and social surroundings increase the risk of holding obstructive bias, and there is a greater risk of being negatively impacted by this phenomenon when belonging to a minority population (Rose & Flores, 2020). As a result, high rates of infant mortality (10.2 deaths per 1,000 live births for the Non-Hispanic Black population compared to 4.1 in the White population) and cardiovascular related diseases (190.0 cases per 1,000 in the Non-Hispanic Black population compared to 161.3 in …

Understanding The Environmental Implications Of The Microbiome Of Canals In Bangkok, Thailand, Emma Tao

Scripps Senior Theses

The canals of Bangkok, Thailand hold significant economic and social value, yet the increasing urbanization of the city has resulted in increased water pollution. Agricultural runoff and urban waste contribute to the degradation of the water quality, which has impaired its safe usage by the people of the city. This study focused on analyzing the microbiome of the water in the canals in correlation with the surrounding environment, both in and out of the water. Ten sites along the Bangkok canals were analyzed. DNA was isolated for the sequencing of the 16s rRNA gene to determine the microbial diversity of …

Integrating Fema And Scouts For Local Community Hazard Preparedness, Megan Vocatura

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

My goal is to support the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based, plan to connect four counties in eastern Massachusetts with local Scouting resources to enhance preparedness efforts. The counties of Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk comprise the geographic footprint of the Sprit of Adventure Scout Council (SoA). SoA’s newly established partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) needs recommendations on where to stage preparedness and response efforts. My role will be to build a repository of evidence of current and anticipated hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks for the region and specific communities. This part of the project will consist of …

Factors Associated With Mask Use In New York City Neighborhood Parks During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Field Audit Study, Lisa Hitch, Marie A. Sillice, Hanish Kodali, Katarzyna E. Wyka, Javier Otero Peña, Terry Tk Huang

Publications and Research

Background: Mask use is a cost-effective measure to decrease COVID-19 transmission. Mask mandates intend to increase mask compliance but are often ambiguous when it comes to public outdoor spaces.

Methods: We used a field audit study to examine mask use in New York City neighborhood parks during COVID-19. 1453 park visitors were observed in 13 parks during July–August 2020 using a modified and validated park use audit tool (System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities) that included items on general and proper mask use (i.e., mask covering both nose and mouth). Generalized estimating equation regression was used to determine …

Medicine Adherence As A Determinant Of Complication Development In Diabetes And Hypertension Patients On A Medical Aid Scheme In Zimbabwe, Tsitsi Moyo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pharmacotherapy is a significant component of chronic disease management; its efficacy depends on long term, correct, and consistent use; however, medicine adherence rates remain low. The cost of medicines is considered a significant barrier to adherence, especially in low-income settings. This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using data from Cimas Medical Aid Society collected between 2015 and 2019. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent of the association between medicine adherence, complication development, and cost of care among diabetic and hypertensive patients while controlling for age and gender on a population that does not experience cost barriers …

Type Of Union And Reproductive Health Influence On Domestic Violence In Sierra Leone, Yvonne Rowe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Domestic violence (DV) is one of the most hidden but prevalent public health concerns affecting women of childbearing age in Africa, despite ongoing prevention initiatives. Lack of power and control in the household is a significant precursor of DV in women, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. While poverty, gender inequality, and societal norms have been identified as directly related to DV, the factors of type of union and reproductive health choice remain unexplored. This quantitative study with a cross-sectional design assessed the relationship between the type of union, female contraceptive use, and type of DV amongst women in Sierra Leone. Anchored …

Social Media Use And Mental Health: An Educational Intervention To Reduce Depression And Anxiety In Adolescents, Natalie Catlett

DNP Projects

Background: Most adolescents spend a great deal of their time using various social media platforms. However, excessive and maladaptive social media use is correlated with worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents.

Objective: This project aimed to determine whether an educational intervention could help decrease overall time spent using social media and improve mood and mental health outcomes among adolescents with depression or anxiety disorders.

Methods: This was a quasi-experiment with a pretest and posttest design. An educational intervention about the relationship between social media use and symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents and strategies to minimize risk …

Healthcare System Responses To Non-Communicable Diseases’ Needs Of Syrian Refugees: The Cases Of Jordan And Lebanon, Chaza Akik, Farah Asfahani, Tatiana Elghossain, Sandra Mesmar, Miriam Rabkin, Wafaa El Sadr, Fouad M. Fouad, Hala Ghattas Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction:

Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Jordan and Lebanon have hosted large refugee populations, with a high pre-conflict burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We aimed to explore NCD service provision to Syrian refugees in these two host countries and to identify lessons learned that may inform the global response to the changing health needs of refugees.

Methods: Between January 2017 and June 2018, we conducted 36 in-depth interviews with stakeholders from Jordan and Lebanon, as well as global stakeholders, to understand the context, the achievements, gaps and priorities in the provision and uptake of NCD prevention, …

Bridging The Gaps: Exploring Factors Associated With Goal Achievement Within An Accountable Care Organization Care Coordination Program, Jessica L. Polk

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Healthcare cost in the U.S. has been increasing at an unsustainable rate due to the growing population diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions and a fragmented healthcare system. The high-risk patient population includes persons who over utilize the healthcare system with frequent avoidable hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and exacerbations of their chronic conditions. This high-risk population makes up five percent of the U.S. but accounts for over fifty percent of all healthcare spending. Care coordination models have emerged to focus proactive health interventions for the highest-risk patient populations to reduce overutilization and empower patients to improve long-term health. Evidence has …

The Risk Factors For Hiv In African American Transgender Women In Connecticut, Oliver Kunda

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence rate is 70 times higher for African American transgender women than in the general population. Despite decades of outreach and intervention effort to reduce HIV incidence in the transgender community by the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transexual, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) community and public health organizations, the HIV prevalence rate for transgender women remains high at 38%. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to gain insights into how attitude, subjective social norms, and perceived behavioral control influence HIV risk behaviors of African American transgender women in Connecticut. Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior provided …

An Evidenced-Based Nursing Education Discharge Plan For Prescription Opioids, Josephine J. Messelmani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The reported number of prescription opioid overdoses justifies the need for providing patients with opioid discharge information and follow-up care as recommended. To prevent any misuse of prescription opioid drugs, it was critical for patients to receive a thorough review of their medications prior to being discharged. The purpose of the project was designed to educate nurses on the importance of delivering essential information to patients prescribed opioids. Implementation of an opioid discharge plan integrated with the teach back method increased patients’ understanding of how to properly take prescription opioids compared to the patients who did not receive opioid education …

Use Of The Hester Davis Falls Risk Assessment Scale In Medical-Surgical Patients, Gideon M. Nyakundi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIdentifying and containing patient falls before they happen, reporting fall occurrence, and analyzing fall causes could increase patient safety to achieve the triple aim of improved quality, reduced cost, and accessibility in healthcare. Patient falls within the medical-surgical population continue to present challenges to patients, families, hospitals, and society, despite the use of fall-related predictive analysis tools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the extent to which the overall score on the Hester Davis Falls Risk Assessment Scale (HDS), comprised of patient-related factors such as medications, volume/electrolyte status, age, last known fall date, mobility, toileting needs, communication/sensory …

Knowledge And Experiences Of African American Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Kristy L. Vance

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a nationwide phenomenon, African American or Black women often have little to no information on the education and support available to manage the condition. PCOS is one of the most poorly understood disorders among patients which has led to limited resources and management. The lack of education could contribute to increased risks to many health issues for African American women with PCOS. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore and examine the level of health knowledge related to PCOS among African American women living in or around the Northern Region of …