Browsing by Subject "Rural"
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Item AN EVALUATION OF DIABETES KNOWLEDGE AMONGST TYPE 2 DIABETICS, HIGH RISK, AND LOW RISK DIABETIC POPULATIONS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY(2014-03) Riezenman, Ariel R.; Mendoza, Irwin; Chiapa-Scifres, Ana; Bowling, JohnPurpose (a): It has been predicted that 1 of 3 adults in the US will have diabetes by 2050. Most Texas rural communities lack adequate healthcare professionals and resources to serve their residents. The assessment of diabetes knowledge in a rural community identifies groups that may benefit from diabetes education in efforts to prevent diabetes and its associated medical complications. Methods (b): A cross-sectional study was performed within Guadalupe County at hospital and clinical settings. A consent and 24-item survey was provided to each participant. Data abstracted from 122 individual surveys were analyzed on SAS. Participants were classified as either having type 2 diabetes or being of high/low risk for type 2 diabetes. Risk status was based on the number of diabetes risk factors outlined by the National Diabetes Informational Clearinghouse. Diabetes exposure was determined by either having diabetes or knowing someone with diabetes, such as a family member or friend. Diabetes knowledge was categorized based on number of correct questions: poor (poor (<8), average (9-16), good (17-24). Results (c): Participants had an average age of 43 years, were predominantly white (63.87%), and female (61.34%). The average number of correct responses from the diabetes knowledge questionnaire was 12.38 (±3.43), with majority of participants having average diabetes knowledge, 78.15%. Independent sample t-tests were conducted to compare the average number of correct responses from the diabetes knowledge questionnaire and both diabetes exposure and age. Specifically, those with diabetes exposure had a significantly higher average number of correct responses (M = 12.69, SD = 3.23) when compared to participants not exposed to diabetes (M = 9.27, SD = 3.88), t (117) = -3.28, p = 0.001. Similarly, the average number of correct responses was significantly different between participants aged 18 to 25 (M = 10.87, SD = 3.13) and those aged 26 and older (M = 13, SD = 3.28), t (113) = -3.10, p = 0.003. A one-way ANOVA noted a significant effect for risk status on average number of correct responses, F (2, 118) = 5.14, p=0.007. Post hoc analysis using the Tukey HSD test indicated that the average number of correct response for those with diabetes (M = 13.7, SD = 2.69) was significantly different from those at low risk (M = 11.29, SD = 3.85). However, those at high risk (M = 12.68, SD = 3.02) did not differ significantly from either those at low risk or those with type 2 diabetes. A one-way ANOVA showed no significant effect for gender on average number of correct responses, F (2, 118) = 1.78, p=0.173. Conclusions (d): Overall, this study supports targeted diabetes education for persons aged 18-25 years, regardless of gender, in rural communities due to their lower levels of diabetes knowledge compared to persons aged 26 and older. Through diabetes awareness programs and health education classes, diabetes prevention and future medical complications may be reduced in rural settings.Item ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG PATIENTS WITH RISK FACTORS FOR METABOLIC SYNDROME IN A RURAL COMMUNITY(2013-04-12) Peebles, RebeccaPurpose: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of medical conditions that synergistically increase the risk for development of cardiovascular disease and type two diabetes mellitus. The rapid and persistent rise in the prevalence of MetS has sparked much interest and debate among researchers regarding activity and inactivity physiology. Exercise as a prescription for prevention and management of this disease process has been suggested and explored. The purpose of this study was to address the relationship between physical activity levels and the presence of MetS risk factors within a rural community. Methods: Patients from a family medicine clinic in San Saba County, Texas were recruited, consented, and given a survey to complete. The survey assessed the amount of physical activity levels, presence of MetS risk factors and demographic information of each participant. Results: Frequencies of the five MetS risk factors were calculated revealing 7.7% of participants had none, 33.3% had one, and 20.5% had two. 38.5 % self-reported three or more risk factors which qualified them to have MetS. There was a medium, negative correlation, r = -0.33, n=31, between increase in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity at work and a decrease in the presence of MetS risk factors. However, the relationship was not statistically significant (p=0.067). No correlation was observed between exercise and the presence of MetS risk factors (r = 0.084, n = 17, p = 0.75) or time sitting and the presence of MetS risk factors (r = 0.094, n =28, p =0.063). A one-way, between group analysis of variance showed statistical significance between high school graduates and higher levels of education, but no statistically significant differences between other levels of education or any income groups. Conclusions: Based on the data collected for this project, there is no significant association between exercise and the presence of MetS risk factors. However, over the past two decades, exercise has been well documented to decrease the development of risk factors and slow or even prevent the progression to fulminant disease. The deviation of the results of this investigation from prior research is likely due to the limitations and confounding factors of this study. Further research is needed to make definitive remarks regarding the role of exercise in prevention and management of MetS.Item EVALUATING PRECEPTIONS OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY(2013-04-12) Mitchell, RobertPurpose: Liberty County, located in Southeast Texas between Houston and Beaumont, has been on the receiving end of two hurricanes that mandated evacuation in 2005 and 2008. The purpose of this project was to explore the perceptions of and preparations for disasters among the population of Liberty County. Methods: A survey was given to patients in a Family Medicine clinic in Liberty County. The survey asked participants about their preparations for future disasters. Data was then compared to the same survey given nationally. Results: The results showed that participants were well prepared. 55.2% of them had a three day supply of water, 24.0% a written evacuation plan, 85.4% working battery radios, 95.8% working battery flashlights, and 94.8% had experience with disasters. Conclusions: These results showed that residents of Liberty County are more prepared for disasters than most of America.Item FACTORS AFFECTING RURAL STUDENTS' APPLICATION AND ADMISSION TO MEDICAL SCHOOL(2013-04-12) Cummings, DavidPurpose: To identify factors that influence the medical education of rural undergraduates and increase the number of graduates that practice in rural communities. Objectives 1.Develop a valid survey tool to evaluate and measure the barriers of rural students that affect their decision to apply and gain admission to medical school. 2.To examine the barrier and support factors associated with the medical school application process that affects premed undergraduate rural students. 3.To examine the barrier and support factors associated with the medical school admissions process and outcome that affects applicants to TCOM. Methods: The research design for this study is primarily observational. Descriptive statistics were generated using SPSS© version 19 and crosstabs were used for comparisons. Hypothesis testing was performed on relevant comparisons. Non-Parametric analysis methods including Chi Squared and the Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test were performed to test for significance among comparisons. A significant alpha level of .05 will be used for all significance tests. Results: For rural students, the level of positive influence from "other relatives" was statistically significant (p value= .018). Rural status may also be associated with the perceived level of helpful advice given to the students by selected persons. Rural students did show more helpful feedback was provided to them by their premedical/prehealth advisor than non-rural counterparts.The association was not significant at the .05 level (p value=.089). For rural students, the top three obstacles include prerequisite courses, MCAT preparation, and MCAT score. Non rural students share the same three top choices, except healthcare experience and prerequisite classes tied for third largest obstacle. MCAT score accounted for the largest difference between the groups but was not statistically significant (p value=.75). Conclusions: Factors exist that can impair or assist undergraduates in achieving their goals of applying to medical school or being accepted into a medical program. Rural students may experience these factors differently than their non-rural counterparts. Determining which persons and which programs are most helpful is a necessity. A small sample size and a lack of diversity within our pre-test sample make it difficult to generalize our findings to the target population. A pilot study with a sufficient number of diverse respondents must be conducted to evaluate the contributing factors accurately.