Public Health – Page 5 – UROP Spring Symposium 2021

Public Health

Using Google Earth to assess neighborhood features and how they affect blood pressure

Relevance: Research suggests that the built environment (e.g. buildings, streets, parks) of one’s neighborhood may affect one’s behavior and health. Since stroke is one of the leading causes of death, this study focused on identifying specific factors in the built environment that may influence blood pressure (BP) which can then affect stroke risk. Methods: Participants were drawn from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Through the use of aerial and street view on Google Earth, we assessed both the presence and quality of the different types of neighborhood built environments for a sample of the study participants. Measures of the built environment including street characteristics, disorder, and presence of bike lanes were investigated for an association with systolic and diastolic BP in regression models. Results: Systolic BP averaged 130.6 (SD 17.5) and diastolic BP averaged 77.1 (SD 9.8) in the sample of 1196 adults included in the analysis. Two-way streets in the participant’s neighborhood, as compared to one-way streets, were associated with higher diastolic BP (coef. 3.4, p=0.42). None of the other associations between the built environment (street characteristics, disorder, and presence of bike lanes) and BP were significant. Conclusion: This study highlights how built environment features can influence one’s health and therefore can show where resources need to be directed to improve the health of individuals and communities. More specifically, average diastolic BP was lower for participants living on one-way streets compared to two-way streets, suggesting street volume may influence blood pressure.

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A Comprehensive Review of Forms of Sexual Education and Analysis of an mHealth Comprehensive Sexual Education

The US has some of the highest rates of teen pregnancy among developing countries with approximately 200,000 babies born to teens aged 15 to 19 in 2016 (1,2). Additionally, nearly 50% of diagnosed STIs are seen in people under the age of 25 (3). These high rates of teen pregnancy and STIs may be due to abstinence-only sex education in schools, which some studies show have minimal effectiveness in preventing STIs and teen pregnancy (4). Michigan state policy requires an emphasis on abstinence, and some schools choose not to provide information on contraceptives at all (5). The purpose of this study was to assess whether abstinence-only sexual education provides the same teen level of education as comprehensive sexual education using a review of relevant literature to compare the two.

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A Comprehensive Review of Forms of Sexual Education and Analysis of an mHealth Comprehensive Sexual Education

The US has some of the highest rates of teen pregnancy among developing countries with approximately 200,000 babies born to teens aged 15 to 19 in 2016 (1,2). Additionally, nearly 50% of diagnosed STIs are seen in people under the age of 25 (3). These high rates of teen pregnancy and STIs may be due to abstinence-only sex education in schools, which some studies show have minimal effectiveness in preventing STIs and teen pregnancy (4). Michigan state policy requires an emphasis on abstinence, and some schools choose not to provide information on contraceptives at all (5). The purpose of this study was to assess whether abstinence-only sexual education provides the same teen level of education as comprehensive sexual education using a review of relevant literature to compare the two.

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Whole Health Evaluation for Veterans

Holistic forms of healthcare treatment are becoming increasingly important. Many research studies have been conducted on holistic treatment options for veterans, demonstrating their value and encouraging implementation. The federally funded Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, also the largest healthcare system in the USA, employs “Whole Health”, a holistic system of care, involving a diverse array of modalities, including yoga, acupuncture, meditation, tai chi, massage therapy, and more. This research seeks to evaluate the understanding, awareness, and treatment outcomes of Whole Health by those at VA, including employees, patients, relatives, and volunteers. A quantitative and qualitative Qualtrics survey was given to those at the Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System to analyze such by having participants rank themselves in categories like mental health, emotional health, spiritual health, and more. Survey-takers also identified which Whole Health modalities they have participated in. Currently, the research is ongoing. At the time of publication of this abstract, the data has been collected and preliminary analysis is in process. Specific, detailed, and final results will be available at the time of the Symposium presentation. Our team expects that the resulting data from the survey will indicate a strong understanding of the VA Whole Health system and its benefits. We anticipate that those who have utilized the offered VA modalities will report a greater health than those who haven’t. These results will demonstrate the value and relevance of holistic healthcare, specifically when treating veterans. In turn, our results will support the initiative to implement holistic medical treatment in more hospitals/healthcare systems worldwide and contribute to the academic discourse about the benefits of holistic healthcare.

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Whole Health Educational Evaluation for Veterans and VA Staff

“Whole Health Educational Resource Development and Evaluation for Veterans and VA Staff” A study was undertaken with the purpose of evaluating and identifying resource effectiveness in veterans or VA staff related to Whole Health usage. The federal government has taken interest in determining if Whole Health is a more effective healthcare care technique that can treat serious mental and physical conditions that can occur as a result of military engagement or treatment of military members. Review of Passport to Whole Health 3rd Edition 2018, videos on the VA Administration website, and mentor guidance helped prepare the development of a survey to be distributed. This survey is yet to be distributed to veteran and VA participants through online and physical means. Online through qualtrics and by hand for physical copies with the means of spreading the word through the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System in Ann Arbor, MI. We are yet to determine the findings, but we expect to be able to determine pain points associated with the treatment and effective modalities as well. Based on these results we are to address and analyze the data to report our findings on Whole Health resources.

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Determining Reliability of Google Earth Audits in Assessing the Effects of Built and Social Environments on Stroke Risk

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke – Built and Social Environment study’s ultimate goal is to try to determine whether the type of neighborhood or general environment, also known as built and social environment (BSE), one lives in will give them a higher risk of stroke or not. Thousands of neighborhoods across the United States were audited in Google Earth to determine whether specific BSE amenities could lead to higher stroke risk. Set questions based on what was available in Google Earth for each location were answered on the REDCap program. This data was used to perform inter-rater reliability (IRR) tests examined in this presentation. This analysis used data from 226 audits conducted by two independent raters. Cohen’s kappa (K) was used to estimate agreement, as an indicator of the reliability of audit items. BSE measures evaluated include presence of driveway, building height (in feet and number of stories), and number of trees. Presence of driveway had the highest agreement (K= 0.77), followed by building height (feet) (K= 0.77), building height (stories) (K= 0.51), then number of trees (K= 0.41). Until all audits are complete, concrete results for the project cannot be provided. Nevertheless, IRR tests have rendered verification that audits for many items are reliable. Items found to be reliable will be used in future analyses to examine the association between BSEs and stroke risk.

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Detroit Contractor Ecosystem

Bridging Neighborhoods (BN) was formed to support the optional relocation or retrofitting of houses for the residents of the Del Ray neighborhood due to the construction of an international bridge between Canada and the United States. To conduct activities, BN relies upon attracting local contractors and subcontractors to the program so the residents can opt into the relocation or retrofitting process with confidence. My role is to research contractor programs and outreach strategies in thirty cities nationwide and assist in reaching out to contractors and subcontractors in Detroit. These tasks were achieved through internet research and calling 150+ potential contractors for the 2021 Construction Conference. The purpose of this research is to highlight contractor programs or outreach strategies that the City of Detroit can implement in the future, and the outreach calls have increased the number of contractor connections BN possesses.

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Student Learning of Qualitative Methods in a Team-Based Tiered Mentorship Approach Through Analysis of Police Role in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Qualitative analysis, and an associated team-based approach in learning these methods, has grown increasingly popular. However, many students find learning qualitative analysis difficult due to limited exposure in early higher education and the absence of a standardized process for qualitative inquiry. Prior studies on teaching and learning qualitative methods highlighted the importance of group work, asking questions, and openness to discussions. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is not much in the literature about the role of a tiered team-based mentorship program in its teaching. We sought to foster improved understanding of qualitative research for undergraduate trainees, as well as conduct exploration of the influence of a team-based approach on learning qualitative analysis. A core team of research mentors conducting qualitative analysis of data collected on police role in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) led trainings for four undergraduate students over the course of seven months. These training sessions leveraged data from the OHCA study to facilitate presentations and group discussions dedicated to qualitative methods. Mentors and trainees convened on a weekly basis for one hour to discuss aspects of qualitative research.

Student Learning of Qualitative Methods in a Team-Based Tiered Mentorship Approach Through Analysis of Police Role in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Read More ยป

Student Learning of Qualitative Methods in a Team-Based Tiered Mentorship Approach Through Analysis of Police Role in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Qualitative analysis, and an associated team-based approach in learning these methods, has grown increasingly popular. However, many students find learning qualitative analysis difficult due to limited exposure in early higher education and the absence of a standardized process for qualitative inquiry. Prior studies on teaching and learning qualitative methods highlighted the importance of group work, asking questions, and openness to discussions. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is not much in the literature about the role of a tiered team-based mentorship program in it’s teaching. We sought to foster improved understanding of qualitative research for undergraduate trainees, as well as conduct exploration of the influence of a team-based approach on learning qualitative analysis. A core team of research mentors conducting qualitative analysis of data collected on police role in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) led trainings for four undergraduate students over the course of seven months. These training sessions leveraged data from the OHCA study to facilitate presentations and group discussions dedicated to qualitative methods. Mentors and trainees convened on a weekly basis for one hour to discuss aspects of qualitative research.

Student Learning of Qualitative Methods in a Team-Based Tiered Mentorship Approach Through Analysis of Police Role in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Read More ยป

Comparing Tuberculosis’ and Pneumonia’s Seasonal Dynamics in Thailand from 1980-2020

Infectious disease seasonality is important for informing public health policy and vaccine distribution. Tuberculosis and pneumonia morbidity and mortality in Thailand are high relative to the rest of the world, and to date, these data have not been sufficiently studied. Tuberculosis incidence at the country level in Thailand exhibits a bi-enniel pattern, though the results have not been examined at the province level. Other research suggests that pneumonia seasonality follows influenza’s bi-enniel patterns in Thailand, however the seasonality of pneumonia has not been analyzed on its own. Here, we examine both tuberculosis and pneumonia monthly case reports from Thailand to identify seasonal patterns at the provincial level (71 provinces) for both pneumonia and tuberculosis from 1980-2020. After digitizing and organizing the data using optical character recognition software, we analyzed the data in R Studio. We will use wavelet analyses and general additive models to reveal the seasonal patterns for each pathogen in each province. Annual seasonality with distinct peaks is expected for both tuberculosis and pneumonia at regional levels. Uncovering seasonal patterns would inform public health officials on when to distribute the corresponding vaccines. If similarities between the two pathogens are found, public health professionals in Thailand will be more informed on their relation (such as in what conditions they are spread). Finally, if no seasonality is found in the data, there will be further evidence supporting the hypothesis that the seasons do not affect the incidence of diseases in Thailand.

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