Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2006. / Title from title screen. Stuart Galishoff, committee chair; Clifford M. Kuhn, J. Lyle Conrad, committee members. Electronic text (157 p. : col. ill.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed Aug. 17, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 152-157).

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Wisconsin--La Crosse, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-52).

This qualitative analysis of the framing of health issues by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the world’s premier health organizations, and by major U.S. newspapers analyzes the frames present in a sample of the CDC’s press releases, and the frames present in the contemporaneous (and often resulting) press coverage. This study focuses on communication surrounding public health events that occurred in the six-year period 2002–2007.

This research uses data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to determine dietary and other factors associated with serum 25(OH)-Vitamin D concentration for 5,474 adults age 20 years and older. After multivariate adjustment, we found that serum 25(OH)-Vitamin D concentration was positively associated with diets high in fruits, vegetables, and lean meats, while diets high in processed foods and high-fat meats were inversely associated with vitamin D level. Serum 25(OH)-Vitamin D concentration was also signifi-cantly associated with age, gender, race/ethnicity, BMI, physical activity, supplementation, and the season of survey administration. Self-reported cardiovascular and kidney disease were significantly associated with serum 25 (OH)-Vitamin D concentration after adjustment for significant confounders.

Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2008. / Title from file title page. Leonard Teel, committee chair; Kathryn Fuller-Seeley, Holley Wilkin, committee members. Electronic text (158 p.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed Nov. 18, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 130-158).

Class of 2014 Abstract / Specific Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess pharmacists’, pharmacy technicians’, and pharmacy interns’ knowledge of current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunization guidelines for pregnant women. Methods: Questionnaires administered to volunteers during the Arizona Pharmacy Association (AzPA) 2013 Annual Convention and Trade Show collected data showing the volunteers’ level of knowledge about current immunization guidelines; data on professional roles (pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacy technician), years in practice, current immunization certification status and activity, and practice setting were also collected. Main Results: Questionnaires were completed by 112 volunteers, including 48 pharmacists, 25 pharmacy technicians, and 39 pharmacy interns. The overall percentage of correct answers from all participants was 33%. Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy interns had correct answer percentages of 41%, 16%, and 34%, respectively. Pharmacy practitioners who were state certified to perform immunizations performed statistically significantly better than the non-certified group (44.2% correct versus 33% correct, P=0.012). Practitioners who work at a practice site that provides immunizations were compared with practitioners who do not, with results trending toward statistical significance, but falling just short (45.7% correct versus 36% correct, P=0.054). Conclusion: The general level of knowledge about CDC immunization guidelines appears to be inadequate among the volunteer group of pharmacy practitioners, possibly leading to missed opportunities for needed immunizations.

Background: At a primary care center in Brooklyn, New York, approximately 27% of diabetic patients with abnormal Hgb A1C fail to return for follow-up appointments, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to electronic medical records (EMR), healthcare providers demonstrated inconsistency in ordering and monitoring Hgb A1C and clinic follow-up appointments for patients. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine retrospectively the healthcare providers’ ordering, monitoring, and follow-up appointments for adult diabetic patients with abnormal Hgb A1Cs; to develop and implement astandardized process for healthcare providers to monitor and follow these patients, especially those with possible nonclinic follow-up compliance and abnormal Hgb A1C; to determine prospectively healthcare providers’ ordering, monitoring, and follow-up appointments; and to evaluate the prospective charts to determine if Hgb AIC results changed from abnormal to normal or elevation over time until the next follow-up appointment.

Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States. Proactive adult behaviors leading to early intervention are a child’s best hope to reach their full potential. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partnered with Porter Novelli to develop a public health campaign called “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” The goal of this campaign was to increase awareness about the early warning signs of autism to help invoke positive behaviors in parents so that children receive services at the youngest age possible. HealthStyles survey data were analyzed to assess the difference in level of autism awareness of those surveyed before the campaign launch and of those surveyed two years post-campaign launch. Association between awareness of autism and early intervention behavior was also examined. Results of the study show improvements in awareness of autism issues; however, the results indicate minimal association between awareness and early intervention behavior. Further research efforts are essential to modify the campaign and target the issues necessary to instigate early intervention behavior.

The purpose of this capstone project was to develop the content for an online training module entitled Promoting Older Adults’ Health through Policy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Aging and Health Work Group was interested in complementing their workshop, Promoting Older Adults’ Health: Opportunities and Resources for CDC Professionals with an online training module on aging and policy. This project highlights significant pieces of U.S. legislation that promotes older adults’ health and draws attention to emerging policy, systems, and environmental changes on the horizon. An anticipated short-term outcome is a demonstrated sensitivity to population aging in all CDC centers, divisions, programs, and initiatives. Similarly, an anticipated long-term outcome is growth in the number, quality, and scope of collaborative efforts across CDC centers, divisions, programs, and initiatives that focus on older adults’ health. Two perspectives, “Healthy Aging” and “Successful Aging,” provide the foundation for a discussion of legislation and policies oriented towards older adults’ health. Various policy frameworks, i.e., cost-benefit, problem, political, vision, and a futures policy approach frame the discussion of policy development. Significant legislation that promotes older adults’ health, i.e., Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act of 1965 provide a historical context for a discussion of emerging policy, systems, and environmental changes that promise even greater advances. The mobility challenge for older adults as a population group in the U.S. provides the thematic thrust of this section of the module. Examples of CDC’s work exploring the link between older adults’ health and mobility, the built environment, and emergency preparedness are highlighted based on several criteria: burden of the problem, preventability, relationship to other CDC initiatives, and usefulness to practitioners are critical considerations. The module also discusses how legislation and policies designed to promote health aging also improve the quality of life for all population groups. Policies focused on healthy aging lay the groundwork for an integration of a “health in all policies” approach (World Health Organization/ WHO, 2006), working in tandem with the “health for all” framework (WHO, 1998) and the “society for all ages” construct (United Nations, 1999).

Magister Scientiae - MSc (Pharmacy Administration and Policy Regulation) / Technological advancements applied to healthcare may holistically improve the economic burden of prescription medication costs. United States legislative actions requiring utilization of electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) will drive provider utilization to decrease healthcare spending. Federal and state e-prescribe requirements have been met with resistance by the prescribing community, due to claims that the requirements create an economic burden for them. This research intends to demonstrate the long-term economic value of electronic prescribing regulations across the healthcare spectrum.