Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Optimizing Preventive Care: The Impact Of A Student-Led Initiative To Improve Cancer Screenings In Primary Care, Katherine Klein, Priya Srivastava, John Sauer, Sahiba Gill, Nirali Trivedi, Fadia Barakzai, Yeonwoo Sim, Matthew Green, Anne Jones, Philip Collins

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Context:

Preventative health measures, including routine cancer screenings, are essential for early detection, timely treatment, and reduction of cancer mortality rates.

Colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer are among the most routinely screened cancers due to advancements in screening technologies1. However, despite the well-established importance of early detection, patient adherence and compliance with national guidelines remain suboptimal, limiting the effectiveness of these screening efforts and delaying possible treatment.2

Objective:

To address this issue, we initiated a medical student-led project focused on improving adherence to national cancer screening guidelines across Rowan-Virtua Family Medicine (FM) practices. This poster outlines the overall efficacy of …

Bridging The Nature Gap: Understanding Barriers And Promoting Outdoor Engagement Among African Americans In Chattanooga, Kennie Almonor

Honors Theses

This paper outlines my process of writing a physical guidebook for outdoor engagement in Chattanooga. It explores the historical context of Black exclusion from outdoor spaces and examines the health disparities that disproportionately affect Black communities. The physical connection between outdoor activity and overall well-being will also be explained. Additionally, this paper details my methodology for conducting focus groups to better understand barriers to outdoor engagement and how participant insights could inform the guidebook’s development. This paper also outlines my research on best practices for structuring an effective guide, writing process, challenges faced, and considerations for extending this project in …

Quality Of Affected Upper Extremity Use During A Ride-On Toy-Based Training Program In Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study, Megan Carlmark

Honors Scholar Theses

Unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) is a subtype of cerebral palsy that impacts movement and coordination on one side of the body. This condition often leads to reduced use of the affected upper extremity in daily tasks. This pilot study explored the feasibility and potential of a joystick-operated ride-on-toy training program as an engaging home-based and play-based intervention to promote affected upper extremity use in children with UCP. Five children from a larger sample of 15 children with a diagnosis of UCP between the ages of 3 and 8 years old were used as data for this thesis. This study included …

Small But Mighty: Strengthening The Value Of Local Pocket Parks, Makana Sm Higa

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

In Monterey County, youth obesity rates are climbing at an alarming rate. Ventana Wildlife Society, and Wellness Through Nature program seek to help lower these rates. Ventana looks to achieve this through outdoor education and family trips with migrant farm working families in the cities of Soledad and Salinas. These trips attempt to increase environmental stewardship and improve community health. The project aims to evaluate the effectiveness and community engagement in regards to pocket parks. The parks visited were Bataan Memorial Park, Harden Neighborhood Park, Cesar Chavez Park, Joe Ledesma Park and San Antonio Park. The research seeks to increase …

Gender And Ethnic Differences In Mental Health Outcomes In Sexual And Gender Minority (Sgm) Youth And Young Adults In Texas And California, 2022-2024, Michelle Gil

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Depression and anxiety affect populations differently, particularly LGBTQ+, ethnic minorities, and youth with limited access to competent care. Risk factors include harassment, victimization, and discrimination. Purpose: To examine gender identity and ethnic differences in depression and anxiety among SGM youth in Texas and California. It is hypothesized that both Latinx and gender minority youth will report higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to non-Latinx and cisgender youth. Methods: Secondary analysis used data from the Family, Housing, and Me (FHAM) Project, following 83 LGBTQ+ youth from South Texas and California's Inland Empire over 25 months. Data includes sociodemographic characteristics, …

Pilot Study To Compare A Therapeutic Exercise Protocol And Neuromuscular Taping On Improving Plantar Foot Pressure Among Type 2 Diabetes Patients, Sandra Rivera

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Diabetes has become one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases worldwide. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a common complication of diabetes as it causes peripheral neuropathy. It is estimated that up to 50% of peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes may be asymptomatic. Justification: The purpose of this study was to determine if the therapeutic exercise protocol and/or Neuromuscular taping can delay changes in the plantar pressure of the foot in patients with Diabetes. Methods: A two-group quasi-experimental design was used in this study; data was collected at two different points in time; pre- and post-intervention. Baropodometric was used …

Analysis Of Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, And Cholesterol Screening Results Collected During Street Outreach Events In Atlantic County, New Jersey, As Part Of A Mobile Community Health Worker Program To Identify Residents At High Risk For Severe Covid-19, Kenneth W. Stagliano, Richard T. Jermyn, Alexander E. Abbott, Donato F. Tassoni, Amy Palen, Frank Carozza, Nicole M. Miller

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: This study seeks to evaluate the status of random blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose screening results in Atlantic County, NJ. This study also aims to identify the rates of hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension within the target population, and potential differences between surveyed age demographics.

Methods: Medical students participating in the COVID-19 CHW Service Corps collected blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose screenings at multiple screening events in Atlantic County, NJ during a two-year period. This data was analyzed retrospectively using ANOVA, non-parametric Kruskal Walis Test, and Tukey's pairwise comparisons.

Results: Senior adults had significantly higher SBP than …

Examining The Relationship Between Nutritional Access And Childhood Obesity In Low-Resource South Jersey Communities, Anastasiya Matveyenko, Saul Madrid-Flores, Arleen Fortuna, Kirsten Marie Carlberg

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is defined as a child considered to have obesity when their body mass index falls in the top 5% compared to other children of the same age and gender. Unhealthy eating habits formed during childhood have been associated with diseases such as obesity and diabetes. We aim to examine the relationship between childhood obesity and barriers to optimal nutrition in our local South Jersey community.

METHODS: We conducted a literature review through Google, Google Scholar, and PubMed utilizing the key terms, “low socioeconomic status (SES),” “Childhood obesity in NJ,” “Nutritional Intervention,” and “Health Risks.”

RESULTS: Our study …

Patient Education And Health Literacy Effects On Statin Use And Adherence, Ian M. Smith, Richard G. Olarsch, Alison M. Mancuso

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: While the use of statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) plays a significant role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, it is estimated approximately 60% of patients who would benefit from a statin are receiving these medications. Current research suggests that a preference for life-style intervention over medical management, concern over medical adverse reactions, and a lower perceived risk of cardiovascular events is associated with statin non-adherence.

Methods: An IRB-approved paper survey was administered to patients aged 18 to 89 at an ambulatory primary care clinic for non-acute visits. Qualtrics was utilized to collect, store, and process data. Information elicited from …

Promoting Safe Firearm Storage Through Media-Based Interventions, Abigail Bordelon

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Given the ongoing phenomenon of unintentional pediatric firearm deaths, this project seeks to examine how the mainstream media reports on these events and how media frames could be altered to better promote public health prevention efforts.

Analysis Of Marshallese Perceptions Of Health And Weight In Adolescents, Sterling Thomas

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Purpose: The purpose of the research is to understand the perceptions of Marshallese adolescents on the topic of health and weight, in order to provide guidance for interventions and public health efforts. The United States has the largest Marshallese population outside the Marshall Islands. Perceptions of weight and health is under researched for minority communities and from the insight of adolescents. Pacific Islanders such as the Marshallese are often categorized as part of the larger Asian American ethnic population, which is not always accurate in certain aspects where public health could provide support areas of concern.

Design: Focus groups …

On Death And Disease: How Physicians’ Perspectives Compare Across Specialties Through Written Work, Stephanie Anne C. Alkonga

Honors Capstones

Narrative medicine is a tool that the medical field is increasingly utilizing to cultivate patient-centered and culturally competent doctors and to reflect on lived experiences through texts that focus on psychosocial best practices. This study aims to examine the language used in physician-written works that address how physicians in different medical specialties treat the aging and the terminally ill, and how they view the deceased. Qualitative data guided by thematic questions will primarily be used in the analysis and comparison of these texts’ tone, rhetoric, diction, and similar literary devices to uncover if certain patterns arise across such specialties. Findings …

A Review Of Praziquantel Resistance In Schistosomes And The Future Of Schistosomiasis Control, Gabriela G. Eastham

Senior Honors Theses

Schistosomiasis is a group of both acute and chronic parasitic trematode infections of the genus Schistosoma. Praziquantel (PZQ) has been the drug of choice to treat schistosomiasis for decades. Though it is effective against all three clinically relevant species, heavy reliance on PZQ has led to concerns of schistosome resistance, especially in areas that have implemented this drug in mass drug administration (MDA) programs. Although there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude that schistosomes are becoming resistant to PZQ on a large scale, other control methods are a necessity to best treat and eliminate schistosomiasis. This article summarizes the …

Testing A Benign Multi-Modal Bilingual Intervention To Increase Self-Efficacy, Intentions, And Willingness To Administer A Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test In A Predominately Hispanic Sample, Uchenna Gbugu

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Introduction. Testing is one of the most effective methods for reducing the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19 antigen tests can detect proteins from the COVID-19 virus called antigens and produce results within minutes, making them suitable for at-home use. Several factors have been identified as barriers to self-administering a COVID-19 antigen test, including the language of the testing instructions, the cost of testing, and access to tests. Interventions to reduce barriers to self-administering COVID-19 rapid tests are warranted to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The purpose of the present study is to test the impact of a benign multi-modal bilingual intervention …

Racial And Ethnic Differences In Knowledge Of Gender-Affirming Care Among Community And Student Participants In The Bloom Transgender Health Education Program In The Paso Del Norte Region, 2022-2024, Tandra Ghosh

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: There is a noticeable lack of training and knowledge regarding gender-affirming care (GAC) among providers and within the general community. OBJECTIVE: Assess racial and ethnic disparities in knowledge of GAC among participants in BLOOM, a quasi-experimental transgender health education program in the Paso Del Norte region. HYPOTHESES: Among community and student participants at pre-survey, assess racial and ethnic differences in sociodemographic characteristics, preparedness, attitudes, and basic knowledge regarding LGBT clients/patients and GAC. METHODS: Secondary data among community (pre: 53; post: 14) and student (pre: 29; post: 17) BLOOM participants in 2022-2024 were used. Descriptive statistics …

Finding Strength In The Struggle: The Impact Of Resilience On Life Satisfaction Among Veterans With Mental Illness, Marissa Gonzalez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Veterans living with mental illness often face challenges that impact their overall life satisfaction and adjustment to civilian life. While resilience is widely considered a protective factor, limited research has examined its role in conjunction with personality traits, psychosocial factors, and demographic characteristics. Purpose: This cross-sectional study examined the associations between resilience and life satisfaction among U.S. veterans with mental illnesses, while accounting for personality dimensions, demographic variables, and psychosocial factors. Methods: Secondary data from 156 veterans diagnosed with mental illness were analyzed. Hierarchical linear regression was used to assess the relationship between resilience and life satisfaction, controlling for …

Memory Matters: Cognitive Screenings For Dementia Detection In Monterey County, Cintia Gonzalez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The rates of Alzheimer’s disease in Monterey County are increasing. The Healthy Aging program from the Monterey County Health Department strives to promote the well-being and health of older adults and caregivers in Monterey County by offering education on brain health, support in adopting healthy lifestyles, and connecting to community services. Memory Matters is an example of a training or educational intervention. The purpose of Memory Matters is to bridge the gap of insufficient access to early detection of dementia by bringing awareness to brain health, and facilitating the conversation of cognitive exams with older adults, their caregivers, and their …

Community Voices, Climate Action Choices: Working Towards A Resilient Monterey County, Lesley A. Solano Alonso

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Vulnerable communities in Monterey County face disproportionate environmental and health impacts due to climate change, yet many residents remain unaware of the tools and resources available to support local action. This capstone project was implemented in partnership with Ecology Action (EA) and the Resilient Central Coast (RCC) campaign to increase awareness and engagement with the RCC platform. Serving diverse communities across Monterey County, the project included bilingual outreach efforts, community tabling, educational presentations, and a climate action survey. Over 650 residents were engaged directly, resulting in 99 new household sign-ups on the RCC website, a major milestone for the agency. …

Exercise As An Intervention For Postpartum Depression (Ppd), Kylie P. Mistretta

Honors Scholar Theses

Objective: To illustrate the applications of exercise for preventing the development of postpartum depression (PPD) and addressing associated risk factors identified in the literature. Data Sources: PubMed and EBSCO: Academic Search Premier were accessed using the search terms exercise OR physical activity OR yoga AND postpartum depression OR postnatal depression. A secondary search of PubMed was conducted using the search terms exercise AND pregnancy AND depression OR gestational diabetes OR weight gain OR sleep quality.

Study Selection: Studies selected for inclusion were peer-reviewed, published after January 2012, written in English, and relevant to the PPD risk factors examined. Only clinical …

Awareness And Attitudes Toward Diabetes Among Students In The California State University System, Cesar Fajardo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background and Aims: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been increasing globally. Studies examining patient awareness and attitudes toward diabetes have been conducted and found that diabetes education does increase patient knowledge but has no effect on attitudes. Additionally, many of these studies did not assess university students’ views on type 2 diabetes. Given that type 2 diabetes incidence is increasing among young adults, more attention must be given to this population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate CSUSB students' understanding and attitudes toward type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using electronic surveys with …