Public Health
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Item Exploring the Impact of Influenza Vaccine Hesitancy among undergraduate students(2024-04-30) McNeill, ShonthiniThis study was designed with the purpose of spreading the importance of educating students to receive the flu vaccination annually because flu strains vary throughout the year and as a result, the vaccine is constantly being updated to protect people from the different flu strains that appear. This study assessed undergraduate students of Lenoir-Rhyne University to gain an understanding of their knowledge and attitudes towards the flu vaccine.Item Honey, Why Aren't You Playing with Your Food?(2024-04-26) Hughes, AlyssaBackground: The USDA has reported an insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption among U.S. adults, which is a critical public health problem. By implementing sensory play and nutrition education, the research aims to enhance the appeal of these essential food groups and improve dietary habits, particularly among young adults and low-income populations. Methods: Participants in this study were fourth-grade students (age 9-10 years old) in the Nita M. Lowery 21st Century Club in Norfolk, VA. Participants (n=11) completed a 13-question written survey administered by the PI. The survey reported their knowledge of nutrition and their feelings about specific vegetables after partaking in hands-on vegetable activities and nutrition lessons.Item Community Radon(2024-04-22) Nichols, MargaretBackground Radon is a naturally formed gas that comes from the decay of certain types of rocks below thesurface. Radon can go undetected due to it being odorless, invisible, and tasteless therefore it is often in homes built onto these formations. Drawing from data collected by a community survey, this study assesses residents' awareness of radon, comprehension of associated risks, andexperiences with potential side effects. Methodology The data collection method used for this study was an anonymous survey, which was sent to potential participants by mail. It was requested that only one resident complete the survey per household and that the person completing was 18 years old or older. Responses were gathered by text message, QR code, and mailbox drop-off. Some responses came back by posted mail. Surveys dropped in or mailed to the post box were entered by QR by the researcher. All responses were downloaded onto an Excel spreadsheet for analysis. Results Key findings indicated a strong knowledge of the presence of the radioactive gas, 80 out of 83, while only half of residents chose to mitigate, among the responses received between January 1st and 31st, 2024. Out of the 83 participants, 56 acknowledged that they were aware of radon presence in this particular community. Seventy-eight participants claimed to know the health risks of radon, while only 3 acknowledged having potential symptoms that could be related to radon exposure, including coughing, wheezing, or chest pain. While still a substantial number of residents have chosen to mitigate, totaling 47%, many fail to take the proper precautions to make sure their equipment is performing correctly through regular maintenance indicating gaps in safety measures which totaled 80.7%. Conclusions Overall, this paper underscores the need for community associations and real estate professionals to actively educate homeowners on potential risks and encourage proactive measures. Mitigation and testing are a minimal cost, without which can cost lives. This paper advocates for enhancing public health outcomes in one small community and across the region.Item Oral Hygiene in Children from Low-Income Households(2023-08-01) Dhanak, ManaliDaily oral hygiene in children has severely decreased over years, and it has been known to make a negative impact on the future of children’s health. Children residing in low-income households in North Carolina have a poor foundation in oral hygiene due to the social determinants present in the Mecklenburg County community. This study aims to evaluate the Save a Smile program created by Mecklenburg County Health Department Pediatric Dentistry Division to address and reduce the social determinants of health that are observed under community, societal, and individual levels.Item Program Planning and Evaluation for the Treatment of Women with Gestational Diabetes (GDM) in Rural Northwest Washington(2023-04-29) Lungren, AmandaGestational diabetes (GDM) is the most common metabolic disorder in pregnancy. The CDC estimates that up to ten percent of women in the United States experiences GDM. This health concern can be managed by both lifestyle changes and medications when needed. GDM can have serious health implications for both mother and baby. If not treated adequately, babies can be born nine pounds or more, which can result in injury to baby during delivery or increase the mother’s chances of cesarean birth with longer recovery time. Additionally, GDM increases chances of type two diabetes, a growing chronic disease, in both baby and the mother. Due to the rural nature of Fidalgo Island, there is limited access to diabetes specialty care, such as an endocrinologist in this area, leaving most of the diabetes management to the diabetes educator and family care provider or obstetrician (OB). The current Island Health (IH) GDM program has room for improvement. Currently, there are no official protocols for when or how to initiate medication management in these patients. Additionally, there are no classes before, during or after pregnancy specific to gestational diabetes management or prevention. Also, there is limited participant qualitative information gathered in the GDM program. Moreover, prior to this project there have not been any questionnaires, satisfaction surveys, focus groups, or process evaluations implemented to assess the program. After implementing a GDM program focus group, findings dictated clear recommendations for the program. The focus group indicated the need for more support and education prior to and after the current GDM program. Moreover, the focus group indicated the need for additional breastfeeding resources and support in completing postpartum oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). Though the focus group was small, findings were critical in implementing program changes to benefit the IH GDM program.