Research Appreciation Day
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RAD is an institutional tradition encompassing medicine, public health and basic science. The program provides an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to share their research efforts with the campus community and the public. The program encourages the development of joint research projects and increases the community's awareness of the outstanding quality and range of research conducted at UNT Health Science Center.
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Browsing Research Appreciation Day by Author "Abraham, Stacy"
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Item An Evaluation of Attitudes and Understanding of Vaccinations in Rural Populations(2017-03-14) Mamun, Md Abdullah; Handoyo, Anthony; Pulvino, John; Abraham, Stacy; Kaushal, DeepikaBackground: Recently in the media, there has been a movement to abstain from childhood immunizations. At the same time, a rise in the rate of preventable childhood diseases for which there are available immunizations has also been witnessed. It is known that the attitude towards vaccination of both the parents and providers and the knowledge about vaccines all influence vaccination compliance. Methods: My colleagues and I surveyed rural communities in Texas to assess parental knowledge and how that affected vaccination compliance. Clifton, Texas is located in Bosque County. As of the census of 2000, there were 3,542 people. Plainview, Texas is located in Hale County. The current census data reports a population of 22,194. Bilingual versions of surveys developed by Zingg et al were distributed to participants with children up to 10 years of age who live in or near the rural towns of Clifton or Plainview between the fall of 2015 and the spring of 2016. Results: When analyzing survey results, correct knowledge was estimated by summing over the number of correct answers for the 11 items in the survey. Using a multiple linear regression model our study revealed that here is statistically significant difference in knowledge on vaccination for parents who has a Bachelor degree or more in comparison to parents who are high school graduate or less after adjusting for the effects of race and number of children. However, there is no statistically significant difference in knowledge on vaccination for parents who has some college degree in comparison to parents who are high school graduate or less after adjusting for the effects of race and number of children. Conclusions: On an average, parent’s knowledge on vaccination increases as their number of children increases after adjusting for the effects of educational status and race. There is no statistical difference on vaccination knowledge in White versus Hispanic and White versus Other racial groups after adjusting for the effects of parent’s education and number of children.Item An Evaluation of Socioeconomic Factors and Health Status on Health-Related Quality Of Life (HRQoL) in Rural Texas(2017-03-14) Sanchez, Roberto; Abraham, Stacy; Mamun, Md Abdullah; Gibson, John Dr.; Urbanczyk, RachelPurpose: HRQoL allows us to focus on how the individual perceives his or her own impairments of health. HRQoL in rural areas is rarely examined, yet its measurements can help identify significant health disparity issues and community burdens that will further highlight the needs in communities. We hypothesized that demographic factors and mental illness would have a significant impact on HRQoL in rural Texas communities. Methods: A cross-sectional survey in the form of a questionnaire was completed by 191 patients in 2 different rural Texas communities. Survey questions were taken from the CDC Health Related Quality of Life-14 “Healthy Days Measure” system and from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System questionnaire. Relationship of socioeconomic factors and health status with HRQoL were assessed using univariate and multiple variable analysis. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to examine the mean number of unhealthy days in Texas versus the two rural communities in the study. Results: After adjusting for age and gender, we found that on average Hispanics reported a significantly less number of physical or mental unhealthy days in comparison to Whites (p-value = 0.0167). We also found that people with high income reported significantly less number of physical and mental unhealthy days on average (p-value for Conclusions: The results suggest that HRQoL can be influenced by many factors, including income level, race, and location. Our results identified that mental health factors are an important component affecting HRQoL and should be studied further in rural Texas communities. Focus on mental health programs and economic development could be beneficial for these communities.Item Association of Nutritional Label Literacy and Eating Habits in Adult Population of Rural Texas(2018-03-14) Clark, Leslie; Fraser, Jordan; Moore, Kalee; Pham, "Kat" Dung; Mamun, Md Abdullah; Abraham, Stacy; Coffey, DanielleASSOCIATION OF NUTRITION LABEL LITERACY AND EATING HABITS IN ADULT POPULATION OF RURAL TEXAS Purpose: The Nutrition Facts panel (NFP) (nutrition labels on food packaging) is one of the best ways to disseminate nutritional information at the point-of-purchase to help reduce total calorie intake and sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and added sugar consumption. Purpose of this study was to examine the association between the ability to interpret nutrition labels correctly and eating habits in the adult population in rural Texas. Methods: A total of 121 adult subjects were recruited from five primary care clinics located in rural Texas. Data on nutrition label literacy and dietary practice were collected using the Newest Vital Sign and the NHANES Dietary Screener Questionnaire, respectively. Univariate analyses and regression analyses were carried out to estimate the strength of association between nutrition label literacy and eating habits. Results: About one-fifth of the subjects had very low nutrition label literacy. Only two-thirds of the subjects were able to calculate the percentage daily value of calories in a single serving. After adjusting for the demographic variables, higher educational level (OR = 3.53), higher income (OR = 5.10), and lower amount of added sugar consumption (OR = 1.14) were found significantly associated with a higher level of nutrition label literacy. Conclusions: Adult population in rural Texas had difficulty in interpreting nutrition label correctly. This study supported the hypothesized linkage between the ability to interpret nutrition labels and healthy eating practices. Revision of the NFP to reduce complexity and account for varying levels of literacy should be considered for future nutrition labels.Item Influence of Stigma on Attitudes Towards Help-Seeking for Major Depression in Rural Central Texas(2016-03-23) Sharma, Sneha; Piraino, Javier; Mamun, Md Abdullah; Abraham, Stacy; Chiapa-Scifres, Ana; Bowling, John; McDermott, CatherineObjective: Stigma about depression may be perceived stigma or personal stigma (negative attitudes about oneself as a result of internalization of stigmatizing ideas held by society). Both types may inhibit help-seeking. Few researchers have reported on these constructs in rural samples despite higher prevalence and completion rates of suicide among rural residents. The current study investigated the relationship between attitude towards professional mental health help-seeking and personal and perceived stigmas towards depression among rural central Texas residents. Methods: This analytical, cross-sectional study used the Stigma and Attitudes towards Depression Questionnaire (SAD-Q) to determine a) contact with help-seeking, b) personal stigma and perceived stigma, c) attitudes toward seeking help from a mental health professional, and d) depression status of 273 residents of the towns and surrounding areas of Eastland, Dublin, and Gatesville, Texas. Through factor analysis, factors were identified that attribute to personal stigma and perceived stigma. After adjusting socio-demographic variables, multiple linear regression was fitted on help-seeking attitude to understand the relationship of history of seeking help from a mental health professional for depression, current depression status, and personal stigma and perceived stigma factors. Results: Personal stigma and perceived stigma factors were distinguished with Cronbach alpha coefficients of 0.90 and 0.94, respectively. Female gender and having a history of help-seeking for depression were found to be significantly related to an attitude favorable towards help-seeking for depression. Participants with possible depression status were found to have significantly more personal help-seeking contact than participants who screened negative for depression. Depression status was not significantly related to either perceived stigma or personal stigma. Contrary to the authors’ expectations and the findings of previous studies, personal and perceived stigmas were not significantly related to help-seeking attitudes in these samples. Conclusion: Some of these results are reassuring: many rural Texas residents who have symptoms of major depression are seeking help from mental health professionals and b) many rural Texas residents who have sought mental health help in the past seem to maintain a positive attitude towards help-seeking. However, the question remains: for those who are depressed but do not seek help, why not? These results suggest that factors other than stigmas influence help-seeking attitudes. Exploring these factors would help inform interventions to address social barriers to help-seeking. Further work could assess the following factors’ influences on attitudes towards help-seeking: perceptions of a) effectiveness of mental health services and b) barriers to obtaining them.Item Outcomes of the UNTHSC TCOM ROME Program on Physician Choice in Field and Location of Practice(2020) Gibson, John; Abraham, Stacy; Bowling, John; Adams, AnaPurpose: This research was intended to evaluate the effects that the Rural Osteopathic Medical Education (ROME) has had on alumni in their decisions for: specialty, location of practice, and underserved status. This data analysis intended to address the efficacy of this medical education program in accomplishing its intended goals of developing primary care doctors to serve medically underserved and rural areas. Methods: The researchers evaluated the ROME program at Texas College of Osteopathic medicine in Fort Worth, Texas by examining public records and contacting alumni to collect practice information on ROME students who graduated over a span of 10 years (2010-2019). The data from these 110 graduates were then evaluated to see what percentage of these students: matched into a primary care specialty, currently practice in a "rural" (< 50,000) setting, or serve in "Medically Underserved Area" (MUA) as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration. Results: It was found that of the 110 ROME graduates from 2010-2019, 70.3% were placed into a primary care residency. 41.86% of those currently in practice were in cities with population < 50,000, with 63% practicing in cities < 100,000. Of those currently in practice also 61.36% of are in a "Medically Underserved Area". Conclusion: The Rural Osteopathic Medical Education program is effective in its mission of producing primary care doctors practicing rural medicine and underserved care. These findings are significant with the high need in healthcare for physicians who practice in these areas.Item WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING RESIDENTS? A SURVEY OF CASE MANAGERS IN TARRANT COUNTY(2014-03) Marshall, Brittany; Walters, Scott; Spence-Almaguer, Emily; Abraham, StacyThis research served as a pilot study to help us develop a program for homeless persons in Tarrant County to improve their quality of life. Purpose (a): Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is used as a method of reducing homelessness and its associated costs. The insight of case managers is integral to determine factors that may facilitate or inhibit the health and quality of life of PSH residents in Tarrant County. Methods (b): An online survey was conducted with PSH case managers (n=24) to assess the percentage of PSH residents affected by various health and wellness domains, barriers to improving health, and potential motivational levers. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Results (c): Case Managers reported that clients were most affected by poor mental health (74%), poor social support (69%) physical health (64%) and substance abuse (46%). Case managers identified furniture, transportation, and food as their clients’ top needs. Case managers believed clients were somewhat motivated to work on improving social support, physical and mental health, and poor nutrition. Approximately 60% of case managers believed their clients were not at all or a little motivated to work on improving medication adherence and substance abuse issues. Conclusions (d): Findings will guide the development of the Interactive Community Health Assistance for Tenants (iCHAT), which aims to reduce alcohol and drug use, reduce symptoms of depression, and improve quality of life amongst PSH residents.