Building Environmental Health and Genomics Literacy among Healthcare Providers Serving Vulnerable Communities: An Innovative Educational Framework

This study addresses healthcare providers’ knowledge deficits in environmental health and genetics, and primarily focuses on student nurses and nurses serving marginalized, low-income communities frequently exposed to environmental toxicants. Our approach to improve public health is unique, combining hands-on modeling exercises with case-based lessons in addition to three targeted 40 min lectures on toxicology. These lectures included the team’s community-based environmental health research among Indigenous peoples of the U.S. The hands-on approach employed DNA and protein molecular models designed to demonstrate normal and dysfunctional molecules, as well as genetic variants in world populations. The models provided learners with visuals and an experience of “learning by doing.” Increased awareness of the effects of environmental toxicants is the first step toward improving health care for exposed communities. We measured knowledge gains by pre- and post-tests among student nurses and nurses serving Native Americans living both in urban and rural areas of the U.S. (n = 116). The modeling lessons illustrated genetic variants in liver proteins common in Native peoples and their resulting health vulnerabilities. Participants were engaged and enthusiastic; and pre- and post-test results reported substantial knowledge gains and a greater understanding of genetic susceptibility (p < 0.0001). Our study demonstrates the utility of this framework across diverse populations and remote communities.

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Intention to Obtain a COVID-19 Vaccine Among Brazilian Immigrant Women in the U.S.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-592342/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer D Allen ◽

Leticia Priebe Rocha ◽

Rebecca Rose ◽

Annmarie Hoch ◽

Thalia Porteny ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Online Survey ◽

Immigrant Women ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Total Sample ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

News Sources ◽

The U.S

Abstract Background: COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted low-income communities and communities of color. Widespread uptake of COVID-19 vaccines is necessary to prevent ongoing community transmission. Little is known about the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among immigrant communities, many of which have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Our goal was to gauge COVID-19 vaccine intentions among Brazilian immigrant women living in the U.S. Methods: We conducted an online survey in Portuguese and English among a convenience sample of Brazilian immigrant women ages 18 years and older. Women were recruited through online advertisements by community-based organizations and social media groups to complete a survey that assessed intention to get a COVID-19 vaccine, attitudes toward vaccines, and perceptions about the pandemic.Results: Of the total sample (N=364), most (70.9%) indicated they would take a COVID-19 vaccine. In bivariate analyses, vaccine intentions were significantly associated with perceptions about the severity of the pandemic, trusted sources of health information, and number of years lived in the U.S. Multinomial logistic regression models revealed that those who did not intend to be vaccinated had lived a longer time in the U.S. (OR: -0.12 95% CI: -0.19, -0.05), perceived the pandemic to be only a minor problem (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 0.51, 2.37), and trusted information from social networks (OR: -2.04, 95% CI: -3.35, -0.73) and private news sources (OR: -1.76, 95% CI: -2.85, -0.68).Conclusions: While the majority of women reported they would get a COVID-19 vaccine, efforts to reach those who may be hesitant should target those who have lived in the U.S. for a longer time and do not perceive the pandemic to be a major crisis. Healthcare providers may be particularly suited to deliver this information given high levels of trust.

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Bush Education Officials Continue Outreach Efforts for National Medicare Prescription Drug Plan: In preparation for enrollment beginning Nov. 15, outreach educates low-income, Medicare-eligible beneficiaries, including those served by the U.S. Department of Education

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e470032006-001 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Prescription Drug ◽

Low Income ◽

Department Of Education ◽

Drug Plan ◽

Prescription Drug Plan ◽

The U.S

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The Roles of Government in Protecting and Promoting Occupational and Environmental Health

10.1093/oso/9780190662677.003.0003 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gregory R. Wagner ◽

Emily A. Spieler

Keyword(s):

Environmental Health ◽

Environmental Protection Agency ◽

Occupational Safety ◽

Mine Safety ◽

Health Administration ◽

Safety And Health ◽

Standards And Regulations ◽

Regulatory Interventions ◽

The Government ◽

The U.S

This chapter discusses the roles of government in promoting occupational and environmental health, with a focus on the U.S. federal government. Governmental interventions, as described here, can range from non-regulatory interventions, such as dissemination of information or generation and communication of information, to establishing regulatory requirements through the promulgation and enforcement of standards and regulations. The chapter describes the U.S. laws and roles of the administrative agencies responsible for occupational and environmental health, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Noting the budgetary and political constraints on these federal agencies, the chapter goes on to discuss briefly the role of the public and the states. The government also plays a role when preventive efforts fail, and the chapter provides a brief summary of programs designed to provide compensation to injured workers.

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Experiences and impact of international medical volunteering: a multi-country mixed methods study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041599 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. e041599 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mary McCauley ◽

Joanna Raven ◽

Nynke van den Broek

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Online Survey ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

International Medical ◽

Middle Income ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

The Uk ◽

Medical Volunteers ◽

The Impact

ObjectiveTo assess the experience and impact of medical volunteers who facilitated training workshops for healthcare providers in maternal and newborn emergency care in 13 countries.SettingsBangladesh, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, UK and Zimbabwe.ParticipantsMedical volunteers from the UK (n=162) and from low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) (n=138).Outcome measuresExpectations, experience, views, personal and professional impact of the experience of volunteering on medical volunteers based in the UK and in LMIC.ResultsUK-based medical volunteers (n=38) were interviewed using focus group discussions (n=12) and key informant interviews (n=26). 262 volunteers (UK-based n=124 (47.3%), and LMIC-based n=138 (52.7%)) responded to the online survey (62% response rate), covering 506 volunteering episodes. UK-based medical volunteers were motivated by altruism, and perceived volunteering as a valuable opportunity to develop their skills in leadership, teaching and communication, skills reported to be transferable to their home workplace. Medical volunteers based in the UK and in LMIC (n=244) reported increased confidence (98%, n=239); improved teamwork (95%, n=232); strengthened leadership skills (90%, n=220); and reported that volunteering had a positive impact for the host country (96%, n=234) and healthcare providers trained (99%, n=241); formed sustainable partnerships (97%, n=237); promoted multidisciplinary team working (98%, n=239); and was a good use of resources (98%, n=239). Medical volunteers based in LMIC reported higher satisfaction scores than those from the UK with regards to impact on personal and professional development.ConclusionHealthcare providers from the UK and LMIC are highly motivated to volunteer to increase local healthcare providers’ knowledge and skills in low-resource settings. Further research is necessary to understand the experiences of local partners and communities regarding how the impact of international medical volunteering can be mutually beneficial and sustainable with measurable outcomes.

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Improving Tanzanian childbirth service quality

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance ◽

10.1108/ijhcqa-10-2015-0122 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 190-202 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jennie Jaribu ◽

Suzanne Penfold ◽

Cathy Green ◽

Fatuma Manzi ◽

Joanna Schellenberg

Keyword(s):

Health Facility ◽

Low Income ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Rural District ◽

Local Data ◽

Content Type ◽

Primary Health ◽

Primary Health Facilities ◽

Childbirth Care

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe a quality improvement (QI) intervention in primary health facilities providing childbirth care in rural Southern Tanzania. Design/methodology/approach A QI collaborative model involving district managers and health facility staff was piloted for 6 months in 4 health facilities in Mtwara Rural district and implemented for 18 months in 23 primary health facilities in Ruangwa district. The model brings together healthcare providers from different health facilities in interactive workshops by: applying QI methods to generate and test change ideas in their own facilities; using local data to monitor improvement and decision making; and health facility supervision visits by project and district mentors. The topics for improving childbirth were deliveries and partographs. Findings Median monthly deliveries increased in 4 months from 38 (IQR 37-40) to 65 (IQR 53-71) in Mtwara Rural district, and in 17 months in Ruangwa district from 110 (IQR 103-125) to 161 (IQR 148-174). In Ruangwa health facilities, the women for whom partographs were used to monitor labour progress increased from 10 to 57 per cent in 17 months. Research limitations/implications The time for QI innovation, testing and implementation phases was limited, and the study only looked at trends. The outcomes were limited to process rather than health outcome measures. Originality/value Healthcare providers became confident in the QI method through engagement, generating and testing their own change ideas, and observing improvements. The findings suggest that implementing a QI initiative is feasible in rural, low-income settings.

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Feasibility, usability and acceptability of paediatric lung ultrasound among healthcare providers and caregivers for the diagnosis of childhood pneumonia in resource-constrained settings: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042547 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. e042547

Author(s):

Atif Riaz ◽

Olga Cambaco ◽

Laura Elizabeth Ellington ◽

Jennifer L Lenahan ◽

Khatia Munguambe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Low Income ◽

Lung Ultrasound ◽

New Technology ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Local Context ◽

Future Research ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Pneumonia Diagnosis

ObjectivesPaediatric pneumonia burden and mortality are highest in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC). Paediatric lung ultrasound (LUS) has emerged as a promising diagnostic tool for pneumonia in LMIC. Despite a growing evidence base for LUS use in paediatric pneumonia diagnosis, little is known about its potential for successful implementation in LMIC. Our objectives were to evaluate the feasibility, usability and acceptability of LUS in the diagnosis of paediatric pneumonia.DesignProspective qualitative study using semistructured interviewsSettingTwo referral hospitals in Mozambique and PakistanParticipantsA total of 21 healthcare providers (HCPs) and 20 caregivers were enrolled.ResultsHCPs highlighted themes of limited resource availability for the feasibility of LUS implementation, including perceived high cost of equipment, maintenance demands, time constraints and limited trained staff. HCPs emphasised the importance of policymaker support and caregiver acceptance for long-term success. HCP perspectives of usability highlighted ease of use and integration into existing workflow. HCPs and caregivers had positive attitudes towards LUS with few exceptions. Both HCPs and caregivers emphasised the potential for rapid, improved diagnosis of paediatric respiratory conditions using LUS.ConclusionsThis was the first study to evaluate HCP and caregiver perspectives of paediatric LUS through qualitative analysis. Critical components impacting feasibility, usability and acceptability of LUS for paediatric pneumonia diagnosis in LMIC were identified for initial deployment. Future research should explore LUS sustainability, with a particular focus on quality control, device maintenance and functionality and adoption of the new technology within the health system. This study highlights the need to engage both users and recipients of new technology early in order to adapt future interventions to the local context for successful implementation.Trial registration numberNCT03187067.

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Food Worker Experiences with and Beliefs about Working While Ill†

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-13-128 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 76 (12) ◽

pp. 2146-2154 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

L. RAND CARPENTER ◽

ALICE L. GREEN ◽

DAWN M. NORTON ◽

ROBERTA FRICK ◽

MELISSA TOBIN-D'ANGELO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Control ◽

Environmental Health ◽

Foodborne Pathogens ◽

Work Experience ◽

Job Loss ◽

Foodborne Illness ◽

Job Responsibilities ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Food Workers ◽

The U.S

Transmission of foodborne pathogens from ill food workers to diners in restaurants is an important cause of foodborne illness outbreaks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that food workers with vomiting or diarrhea (symptoms of foodborne illness) be excluded from work. To understand the experiences and characteristics of workers who work while ill, workplace interviews were conducted with 491 food workers from 391 randomly selected restaurants in nine states that participated in the Environmental Health Specialists Network of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost 60% of workers recalled working while ill at some time. Twenty percent of workers said that they had worked while ill with vomiting or diarrhea for at least one shift in the previous year. Factors significantly related to workers having said that they had worked while ill with vomiting or diarrhea were worker sex, job responsibilities, years of work experience, concerns about leaving coworkers short staffed, and concerns about job loss. These findings suggest that the decision to work while ill with vomiting or diarrhea is complex and multifactorial.

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Contextualizing technology in the classroom via remote access: Using space exploration themes and scanning electron microscopy as tools to promote engagement in multidisciplinary geology/chemistry experiments

Journal of Technology and Science Education ◽

10.3926/jotse.341 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 86 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Brandon Rodriguez ◽

Veronica Jaramillo ◽

Vanessa Wolf ◽

Esteban Bautista ◽

Jennifer Portillo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Low Income ◽

Space Exploration ◽

Remote Access ◽

Scientific Practices ◽

Technology In The Classroom ◽

Minority Communities ◽

Hands On ◽

K 12 ◽

Scanning Electron

A multidisciplinary science experiment was performed in K-12 classrooms focusing on the interconnection of technology with geology and chemistry. The engagement and passion for science of over eight hundred students across twenty-one classrooms, utilizing a combination of hands-on activities to study the relationships between Earth and space rock studies, followed by a remote access session wherein students remotely employed the use of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to validate their findings was investigated. Participants were from predominantly low-income minority communities, with little exposure to the themes and equipment used, despite being freely available resources. Students indicated greatly increased interest in scientific practices and careers, as well as a better grasp of the content as a result of the lab and remote access coupling format.

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