The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate a vaccination education module and evaluate its effectiveness to improve vaccine beliefs and behaviors among college freshmen. The participants included 177 college freshmen at one Utah university. Participants were eligible for this study if admitted as a new freshman during the 2019-2020 school year. The study was a cross-sectional pre- and post-education evaluation assessing vaccine beliefs and behaviors using a Likert-type scale. After completing the vaccination education module, participants' vaccine beliefs and behavioral intentions improved. Participants reported they were more likely to be up-to-date on personal vaccines and more likely to expect other students to be up-to-date on their vaccinations. Participants were more likely to ask other students to vaccinate and were also more likely to ask their family members to be vaccinated. In conclusion this online vaccination education module effectively improved participants' vaccine beliefs and behavioral intentions.

Hepatitis is an infectious disease that affects millions of people worldwide. The current project seeks to achieve two objectives: 1) To understand how hepatitis policies affect hepatitis prevalence in prison, and 2) To understand how hepatitis prevalence in prison affects the general population. Using a content analysis of correctional policies available through each state Department of Corrections (DOC) and secondary data from the 2010 Census, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Corrections Compendium; hepatitis prevalence and policies are analyzed. The content analysis employed for this study revealed that some states have more comprehensive policies than others. However, all states may benefit from modifying their policies to meet recommendations constructed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Findings from descriptive statistics also suggest changes in HIV prevalence and policies positively affect hepatitis C prevalence. Future research should be dedicated to examining how personal interactions in prison also affect prevalence rates.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Questionnaires were sent to 500 orthodontists in all states of the U.S., inquiring about the methods of sterilization used for hand instruments (mirrors, explorers, band pushers, etc.) and hinged instruments (pliers). The practitioners were asked if their sterilization/disinfection methods had been changed recently, and if any changes in methods were due to the risk of disease transmission. Opinions were also solicited regarding the importance of complete sterilization (i.e., destruction of all organisms). An opportunity was provided to rate the effectiveness of the sterilization method in use. Finally, information was requested on any barrier methods used routinely. The most commonly used method for hand and hinged instruments was cold sterilization with a 2% glutaraldehyde solution. This solution was used by 46.5% of the office for hand instruments, and by 33.5% of the offices for hinged instruments. Quaternary ammonium compounds were used by 26.5% of the offices for hand instruments, and by 19.2% for hinged instruments. Wiping with alcohol was used by 30.4% of the offices for hinged instruments. The most common heat sterilization method used was the chemiclave system (11.5% for hand instruments and 9.1% for hinged). Of the offices surveyed, 45.5% had changed their methods within the past two years. Of that group, 66.9% had changed as a result of the increased problem with transmissible diseases. Of the offices that had not changed recently, 64.1% were considering doing so as a result of the disease transmission concern. Complete sterilization was considered very important by 47.5% of respondents, while 41.6% ranked it somewhat important. Of the orthodontists surveyed, 16.1% felt that they achieved an excellent level of asepsis in their offices, followed by 58.7% who rated it good, 23.4% average, and 1.4% poor. Protective eyewear was worn by 52.4 % of those surveyed, while gloves and masks were worn routinely by 21.3% and 21.6% of the practitioners, respectively. On the basis of the literature review, the most effective cold sterilization method (other than ethylene oxide) for the orthodontic office appears to be a 2% glutaraldehyde solution. This technique will not corrode plier joints or the stainless steel surfaces. The best heat sterilization method for the orthodontic office is the chemiclave system, due to its lack of corrosion problems, as well as its relatively rapid cycle time. Ultrasonic cleaning of all instruments prior to sterilization is highly recommended.

Thesis--University of Michigan, 1946.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1946.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1946.

Thesis--University of Michigan, 1946.

This paper examines whether compliance with COVID-19 mitigation measures is motivated by wanting to save lives or save the economy (or both), and which implications this carries to fight the pandemic. National representative samples were collected from 24 countries (N = 25,435). The main predictors were (1) perceived risk to contract coronavirus, (2) perceived risk to suffer economic losses due to coronavirus, and (3) their interaction effect. Individual and country-level variables were added as covariates in multilevel regression models. We examined compliance with various preventive health behaviors and support for strict containment policies. Results show that perceived economic risk consistently predicted mitigation behavior and policy support—and its effects were positive. Perceived health risk had mixed effects. Only two significant interactions between health and economic risk were identified—both positive. / New York University Abu Dhabi

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / According to the WHO (2017), non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which include stroke, cancer, heart disease, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes is the leading cause of death and is responsible for seventy one percent of deaths worldwide. Beaglehole et al., (2009) reported that management of chronic diseases depends primarily on early detection of early disease, identification of high-risk status, interventions including pharmacological and psychosocial intercessions and long term follow up with monitoring and promotion of adherence to treatment.

Purpose: The purposes of this research are to evaluate the effectiveness of a vaccine education module (VEM) in 1) contributing to new vaccine knowledge of university freshmen; and 2) identifying common vaccine concerns of university freshmen before and after completing the VEM. Methods: A VEM, including information about vaccine-preventable diseases, benefits of vaccines, principles of community or herd immunity, and where to go to get vaccinated, was created for freshman students. Student vaccine concerns were identified using a pretest/posttest quasi-experimental design using an online questionnaire before and after completing the VEM. After the VEM, participants were also asked to identify newly acquired knowledge. Results: Prior to viewing the VEM, the most common participant vaccine theme was the overall decrease of vaccination rates in the general population. After completing the VEM, the most common vaccine concern was the erosion of community immunity. The second most common theme were concerns about vaccine safety. Participants were also concerned about their own vaccination status. When asked what new knowledge they gleaned from the VEM, participants most frequently reported learning information about communicable diseases. Data were collected in the fall of 2019. Conclusions: Following the completion of the VEM, freshman university students reported fewer concerns about vaccine safety and more concerns regarding their current vaccination status. This demonstrates how a VEM contributes to vaccination knowledge and addresses vaccination concerns in university students.